HUD PIH Notice § 2020-28
Foster Youth to Independence Initiative (HUD PIH Notices)
HUD guidance — not codified law
In Force
Verified 10/14/2026 · Next check 10/21/2026
effective 10/6/2026FederalAffordable Housing ProgramsOperative Text
HUD PIH Notice § 2020-28
Special Attention of: Notice PIH 2020-28
Directors of HUD Regional and Field
Offices of Public Housing; Issued: October 6, 2020
Agencies that Administer the
Housing Choice Voucher Program Supersedes: PIH Notice 2019-20 (HA)
This notice remains in effect until amended,
superseded, or rescinded
Cross References: PIH Notice 2009-08,
Further Consolidated Appropriations
Act, 2020 (Public Law 116-94), enacted
on December 20, 2019
Subject: Foster Youth to Independence Initiative
1. Purpose. Through the Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) initiative HUD will provide
Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) for youth eligible under the Family Unification
Program (FUP), subject to availability. Throughout this notice, these vouchers are
referred to as FYI vouchers.
The Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (Public Law 116-94), referred to
hereafter as “the 2020 Act,” enacted on December 20, 2019, provides that up to $10
million shall be available on a non-competitive basis to public housing agencies (PHAs)
that partner with public child welfare agencies (PCWAs) for FUP-eligible youth under
Section 8(x) of the U.S. Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(x)).
This notice explains the eligibility and application requirements for FYI voucher
funding, and how applications will be processed.
2. Summary. Through this targeted allocation, HUD is investing in local, cross-system
collaborative efforts to prevent and end homelessness among youth with a current or
prior history of child welfare involvement. The success of this effort requires that
community partners coordinate effectively to identify, target, and connect eligible youth
at-risk of or experiencing homelessness to housing and related supports. This notice
www.hud.gov espanol.hud.gov
calls for PHAs, PCWAs1, and continuums of care (CoCs)2 to work together to determine
the most appropriate intervention for each young person.
3. Changes from PIH Notice 2019-20.
This notice revises PIH Notice 2019-20 in the following policy areas:
Subject PIH Notice 2019-20 PIH Notice 2020-XX
Source of TPV appropriated funds Up to $10 million of FUP
Funding under the 2019 Act. appropriated funds under the
2020 Act.
Name of FYI TPVs. FYI vouchers.
Vouchers
PHA Eligibility PHAs with an ACC for HCVs All PHAs with an ACC for
that do not administer FUP. HCVs.
Maximum 25 vouchers in a fiscal year. 25 vouchers in a fiscal year,
Award with the ability to request
additional vouchers with 90
percent or greater utilization.
Submission Name of youth must be A code, alias, initials, or full
Requirement included in request. name of the youth must be
included in the request.
Submission Instructions for completion of Instructions for completion of
Requirement form HUD-52515, now form HUD-52515, with
expired. expiration of July 31, 2022.
1
Public Child Welfare Agency (PCWA) means the agency that is responsible under applicable State law for determining that a child is at
imminent risk of placement in out-of-home care or that a child in out-of-home care under the supervision of the public agency may be returned
to his or her family, or that a youth is at least 18 years and not more than 24 years of age and left foster care, or will leave foster care within 90
days, in accordance with a transition plan described in section 475(5)(H) of the Social Security Act, and is homeless or is at risk of becoming
homeless at age 16 or older. For states that have privatized child welfare, the agency designated to conduct child welfare on behalf of the state
may be considered a PCWA.
2
Continuum of Care (CoC) – the group organized to carry out the responsibilities required under 24 CFR part 578 and that is composed of
representatives of organizations, including nonprofit homeless providers, victim service providers, faith-based organizations, governments,
businesses, advocates, public housing agencies, school districts, social service providers, mental health agencies, hospitals, universities,
affordable housing developers, law enforcement, organizations that serve homeless and formerly homeless veterans, and homeless and formerly
homeless persons to the extent these groups are represented within the geographic area and are available to participate.
2
Youth Failure to Should a youth fail to use the Should a youth fail to use the
Use Voucher voucher, the PHA must notify voucher, the PHA may issue
HUD, and HUD will reduce the voucher to another eligible
the PHA’s HCV assistance to youth if one has been
account for the removal of the identified. If another eligible
FYI TPV assistance from the youth is not available, the PHA
PHA’s HCV baseline must notify HUD, and HUD
inventory. will reduce the PHA’s HCV
assistance to account for the
removal of the FYI assistance
from the PHA’s HCV baseline.
Turnover When the youth exits the PHAs must continue to use FYI
program, HUD will reduce vouchers awarded under this
the PHA’s HCV assistance to notice for eligible youth upon
account for the removal of the turnover. If another eligible
assistance from the PHA’s youth is not available, the PHA
HCV baseline inventory must notify HUD, and HUD
will reduce the PHA’s HCV
assistance to account for the
removal of the FYI assistance
from the PHA’s HCV baseline.
HUD will monitor the
utilization of vouchers awarded
through this notice on an annual
basis and any unutilized
voucher assistance that is no
longer needed will be
recaptured and reallocated as
authorized under the 2020 Act.
Youth Eligibility Youth eligibility defined as Youth eligibility language has
follows: been revised to explicitly
reference the “16 or older”
1. Has attained at least 18 requirement in item 3 below
years and not more than 24
years of age;
1. Has attained at least 18
2. Left foster care, or will years and not more than 24
leave foster care within 90 years of age;
days, in accordance with a
transition plan described in 2. Left foster care, or will
section 475(5)(H) of the leave foster care within 90
Social Security Act at age days, in accordance with a
16 or older; and transition plan described in
3
section 475(5)(H) of the
3. Is homeless or is at risk of Social Security Act; and
becoming homeless.
3. Is homeless or is at risk of
becoming homeless at age
16 or older.
4. Impact on existing awards and requests. No additional actions are required of
PHAs that received funding under Notice PIH 2019-20.
Requests submitted to HUD by PHAs pursuant to PIH Notice 2019-20 prior to the
publication of this notice do not need to be re-submitted. If the request is determined
eligible, it will be processed under the requirements of the new notice.
5. Funding. The 2020 Act provides that of the $25 million appropriated for FUP, $20
million shall be made available for FUP youth. Furthermore, of that $20 million up to
$10 million shall be made available on a non-competitive basis to PHAs that partner
with public child welfare agencies to identify FUP-eligible youth. This funding source
will be made available to expand the FYI initiative.
Subject to the following conditions, HUD will accept PHA requests for FYI vouchers
under this notice on a rolling basis:
A. Funding remains available. Funding under this notice is dependent on the
availability of appropriations. HUD will utilize up to $10 million of the FUP-
appropriated amount for FYI.
B. Notice remains in effect. Until HUD rescinds or suspends this notice, it
remains in effect.
6. PHA Eligibility Requirements. A PHA requesting assistance under this notice must
meet all of the eligibility requirements described below.
A. PHA currently administers the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program.
The PHA must have an existing ACC with HUD for HCVs. A contract
administrator that does not have an ACC with HUD for HCVs but constitutes a
PHA under 24 CFR 982.4 by reason of its administering HCVs on behalf of
another PHA, is not eligible to submit an application under this notice. Nonprofit
administrators of HCV mainstream assistance, which by statute are classified as
PHAs solely for the purpose of administering HCV mainstream assistance, are
also ineligible for FYI.
B. FUP PHA eligibility. Eligibility for PHAs administering FUP is limited to
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PHAs with a FUP utilization of at least 90 percent at the time of the request.
This must be reflected in Voucher Management System (VMS) reporting.
C. Partnership with a PCWA. The PHA must have a partnership with a PCWA.
This partnership must assist the PHA in using assistance under this notice.
D. Waiting List Administration. The PHA, upon receipt of a referral(s) from the
PCWA of an eligible youth, must compare the name(s) with youth already on the
PHA's HCV waiting list. Any youth on the PHA's HCV waiting list that matches
with the PCWA's referral must be assisted in order of their position on the
waiting list in accordance with PHA admission policies. Any youth certified by
the PCWA as eligible and not on the HCV waiting list must be placed on the
waiting list (pending HCV eligibility determination). If the PHA has a closed
HCV waiting list, it must reopen the waiting list and place on the waiting list a
FYI applicant youth who is not currently on the PHA's HCV waiting list. The
PHA may reopen the waiting list to accept an FYI eligible youth without opening
the waiting list for other applicants
E. Request for assistance. A request for assistance may not be made until the PHA
has received a referral of an eligible youth from the partnering PCWA.
F. Administrative plan update. The PHA must amend the administrative plan in
accordance with applicable program regulations and requirements.
5. PCWA Roles and Responsibilities. The partnering PCWA must meet the following
requirements.
A. Identify eligible Youth. The PCWA must have a system for identifying eligible
youth within the agency’s caseload and review referrals from the PHA or a third
party such as a State, local, philanthropic, faith-based organizations, CoC, or a
CoC recipient it designates.
B. System of Prioritization. Given the limited nature of this resource, the PCWA
must have a system of prioritization for eligible youth.
C. Written Certification. The PCWA must provide written certification to the
PHA that a youth is eligible.
D. Supportive Services. The PCWA must provide or secure a commitment for the
provision of required supportive services.
6. Required Supportive Services. Eligibility to receive funding under this notice to
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administer FYI vouchers requires that the PCWA provide or secure a commitment of
supportive services for participating youth to assist the youth in achieving self-
sufficiency. The services listed in (A) through (E) below must be secured for a period of
36 months to eligible youth receiving rental assistance through this notice. HUD
encourages full participation in self-sufficiency services as appropriate for the
participating youth.
A. Basic life skills information/counseling on money management, use of credit,
housekeeping, proper nutrition/meal preparation; and access to health care (e.g.,
doctors, medication, and mental and behavioral health services).
B. Counseling on compliance with rental lease requirements and with HCV program
participant requirements, including assistance/referrals for assistance on security
deposits, utility hook-up fees, and utility deposits.
C. Providing such assurances to owners of rental property as are reasonable and
necessary to assist eligible youth to rent a unit with a voucher.
D. Job preparation and attainment counseling (where to look/how to apply, dress,
grooming, and relationships with supervisory personnel, etc.).
E. Educational and career advancement counseling regarding attainment of general
equivalency diploma (GED); attendance/financing of education at a technical
school, trade school or college; including successful work ethic and attitude
models.
The provision of supportive services is not an eligible use of funding under this notice.
7. Youth Eligibility. The population eligible to be assisted with funding under this notice
are youth certified by a PCWA as meeting the following conditions:
1. Has attained at least 18 years and not more than 24 years of age;
2. Left foster care, or will leave foster care within 90 days, in accordance with a
transition plan described in section 475(5)(H) of the Social Security Act; and
3. Is homeless3 or is at risk of becoming homeless4 at age 16 or older.
3
Homeless refers to the population included in the definition of this term at 24 CFR 578.3.
4
At Risk of Becoming Homeless means the population defined as “At Risk of Homelessness” at 24 CFR 576.2. .
6
Eligibility is not limited to single persons. For example, pregnant and/or parenting youth
are eligible to receive assistance under this notice assuming they otherwise meet
eligibility requirements.
8. Partnership Agreement. PHAs applying for assistance under this notice must enter into
a partnership agreement with a PCWA. HUD strongly encourages adding other important
partners, such as the State, local, philanthropic, faith-based organizations, and the CoC, or
a CoC recipient it designates, to the partnership. The partnership agreement may take the
form of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or letters of intent between the parties.
At a minimum, the partnership agreement must clearly address the following:
A. Define eligible youth. Define youth eligible to receive assistance under this notice
using the criteria in Section 7 of this notice.
B. Supportive Services. List the supportive services to be provided to eligible youth
receiving rental assistance through this notice. All of the services identified in
Section 6 of this notice must be provided. These services must be provided for a
period of 36 months. The organization(s) to provide these services must be
identified.
C. Address PHA responsibilities. The following PHA responsibilities must be
identified:
a. The PHA, upon receipt of a referral(s) from the PCWA of an eligible
youth, must compare the name(s) with youth already on the PHA's HCV
waiting list. Any youth on the PHA's HCV waiting list that matches with
the PCWA's referral must be assisted in order of their position on the
waiting list in accordance with PHA admission policies. Any youth
certified by the PCWA as eligible and not on the HCV waiting list must be
placed on the waiting list (pending HCV eligibility determination). If the
PHA has a closed HCV waiting list, it must reopen the waiting list and
place on the waiting list a FYI applicant youth who is not currently on the
PHA's HCV waiting list. The PHA may reopen the waiting list to accept
an FYI eligible youth without opening the waiting list for other applicants.
b. PHA must amend the administrative plan in accordance with applicable
program regulations and requirements.
D. Address PCWA responsibilities. The following PCWA responsibilities must
be identified:
a. PCWA must have a system for identifying eligible youth within the
agency’s caseload and review referrals from the PHA, and other
important partners, such as the State, local, philanthropic, faith-based
organizations, and CoC, or CoC recipient it designates, as applicable.
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b. PCWA must have a system for prioritization of referrals to ensure
that youth are prioritized for a FYI voucher based upon level of need
and appropriateness of the intervention.
c. PCWA must provide written certification to the PHA that a youth is
eligible.
d. PCWA must provide or secure a commitment for the provision of required
supportive services.
E. Address Third-Party Responsibilities. Where other partners, such as the State,
local, philanthropic, faith-based organizations, and the CoC, or a CoC recipient it
designates, will be party to the partnership agreement, the responsibilities of the
entity must be identified:
a. Integrate the prioritization and referral process for eligible youth into the
third party or CoC’s coordinated entry process.
b. Identify services, if any, to be provided using third party or CoC program
funds to youth who qualify for third party or CoC program assistance.
c. Make referrals of eligible youth to the PCWA.
9. Role of Third Parties. HUD strongly encourages participation of State, local,
philanthropic, faith-based organizations, and the CoC, or a CoC recipient it designates.
These parties may play a critical role in identifying eligible youth in the community at
risk of or experiencing homelessness that are no longer part of the child welfare system.
Further, these parties may provide or leverage supportive services on behalf of the youth.
The CoC plays a role in identifying eligible youth in the community at risk of or
experiencing homelessness that are no longer part of the child welfare system. Through
the CoCs coordinated entry process, referrals of eligible youth to the PCWA are able to
be made based on prioritization of need and appropriateness of the intervention. Further,
CoC recipients may provide supportive services using CoC program funds to youth who
qualify for CoC program assistance. Youth who are part of the PCWA's active caseload
do not have to be added to the CoC's coordinated entry process.
10. Minimum and Maximum Request. There is no minimum request size. A PHA
request may be as small as one voucher. Given the limited nature of this resource, each
PHA is limited to an initial maximum award of 25 vouchers under this notice in a fiscal
year (October 1 through September 30). PHAs that have not reached the maximum
annual cap may submit more than one application under this notice.
PHAs that have been awarded the initial maximum cap of 25 vouchers in a fiscal year
that have achieved at least 90 percent utilization of these vouchers may request up to an
additional 25 vouchers. PHAs will not be awarded more than 50 vouchers in a fiscal
year.
8
An application for vouchers under this notice may not occur until the PHA has received
a referral of an eligible youth by the partnering PCWA.
Applying for funds under this notice does not exclude PHAs from pursuing
funding under a future NOFA, assuming all eligibility requirements of the NOFA
are otherwise met.
11. Value of Voucher. The value of the FYI voucher is dependent on the Per Unit Cost
(PUC) identified by HUD for the PHA. If a PHA has concerns regarding the
sufficiency of the funding based on the PUC, the PHA can request higher funding
within 12 months of the award effective date based on actual costs and rent
reasonableness. Through Notice PIH 2020-04, PHAs have an ongoing opportunity to
request funding for the prevention of terminations due to insufficient funding. For
information on how to submit an application please see Notice PIH 2020-04.
Inquiries about PUC increases may be directed to the Financial Management Division
(FMD) mailbox at PIH_Conversion_Actions@hud.gov.
12. Prioritization. Given the limited nature of these FYI vouchers, the PCWA is
encouraged to consider how they are prioritizing youth for referrals. The intent of
prioritization should be to ensure that youth are prioritized for housing resources and
related services based upon level of need and appropriateness of the intervention. For
youth still involved in the child welfare system, the permanency goals of the young
person should be taken into account.
13. Voluntary Participation. PHAs are not required to request and/or administer
assistance under this notice. Further, PHAs may choose to request less than the
maximum number of FYI vouchers available to them in a given year.
14. Application Process. An application that does not meet all eligibility requirements
will be deemed ineligible and will not receive FYI vouchers under this notice.
A. Content of the Application. A PHA who wishes to request vouchers under
this notice must email the Office of Housing Voucher Programs (OHVP) at
FYI@hud.gov, copying the Field Office Public Housing Director. The subject
line of the email should have the following format [PHA Code_Request for
FYI vouchers]. The email must come from the Executive Director, Chief
Executive Officer, or individual of equivalent position of the PHA.
a. Body of Email. The body of the email must include all of the
following information:
1. PHA Name and PHA Code.
2. Statement that the PHA is requesting vouchers under this notice.
3. Name of partnering PCWA responsible for making
eligibility determinations and referrals to the PHA.
4. Name of third-party partners, as applicable.
9
5. Name of entity(ies) providing the required supportive services.
6. Certification that the PHA has entered into a partnership
agreement with the PCWA, and any third party(ies) it designates
(as applicable). The PHA must provide a statement that it is
certifying to the partnership.
7. For PHAs that administer FUP, a certification that the PHA has a
FUP utilization of at least 90 percent at the time of request. This
element is only applicable to PHAs that administer FUP.
8. Indicate the number of vouchers being requested, identifying
the eligible youth by code, alias, initials, or full name.
9. For PHAs that have been awarded the initial maximum cap of
25 vouchers in a fiscal year and are requesting additional
vouchers (up to 25), a certification that the PHA has achieved
at least a 90 percent utilization of the previously awarded FYI
vouchers.5 This element is only applicable to PHAs that
have already received 25 FYI vouchers in the fiscal year.
Note: An application for vouchers under this notice may not
occur until the PHA has received a referral of an eligible
youth by the partnering PCWA.
10. Contact information should HUD need to follow-up.
b. Form HUD-52515. The email must include the attachment of a
completed form HUD-52515. This form was recently updated. PHAs
should use the form HUD-52515 with an expiration of July 31, 2022.
Only complete the first page of the form.
B. Processing of Applications. Before a PHA’s request for assistance may
be approved, the following steps must occur.
a. Eligibility Review. The PHA’s request for assistance will be reviewed
to verify that:
1. All of the required information identified above has
been submitted; and
2. The PHA is eligible to administer HCVs.
b. Eligibility Determination. After review of the application, HUD will:
1. Advise the PHA to modify its request to meet the requirements
of this notice;
2. Deny any request that fails to meet the requirements of this
notice and notify the PHA by email of the denial; or
3. Determine that the request meets the requirements of this notice.
5
The calculation should round down to the nearest whole number. For example, a PHA with an award of 25 FYI
vouchers may request additional vouchers when it has leased up at least 22 FYI vouchers.
10
C. Funding Process. Requests determined to meet the requirements of this
notice will be referred to the Financial Management Division (FMD) and
Financial Management Center (FMC) for further processing.
The funding process is intended to result in issuance of an amended ACC to
the PHA to administer the FYI voucher(s) within 60 business days.
In some instances, the award of FYI funds will not be provided in time to
assist a youth that is currently homeless, or will become homeless before the
award of the FYI voucher is completed. As an eligible use of the PHA’s
administrative fee reserves, the PHA may use these funds to expedite lease
up.
15. Additional Program Requirements. The following notice-specific
program requirements apply:
A. Utilization. HUD will monitor the utilization of vouchers awarded through this
notice on an annual basis and any unutilized voucher assistance that is no longer
needed will be recaptured and reallocated as authorized under the 2020 Act.
B. Youth Failure to Use Voucher/Turnover. Should a youth fail to use the
voucher, the PHA may issue the voucher to another eligible youth if one has been
identified.
PHAs must continue to use FYI vouchers awarded under this notice for
eligible youth upon turnover. If another eligible youth is not available, the
PHA must notify HUD, and HUD will reduce the PHA’s HCV assistance to
account for the removal of the FYI assistance from the PHA’s HCV baseline.
Notification should be provided to FYI@hud.gov and the PHA’s respective
Financial Management Center Financial Analyst.
C. Reporting. PHAs must maintain a special program code for FYI voucher
participants in line 2n of the Family Report (form HUD-50058) or line 2p of the
MTW Family Report (form HUD-50058), as applicable. The special program
code is “FYI.” PHAs must also properly record the date the PHA issues the
voucher to the youth, and the date of admittance to the program in line 2a. Line
2h must be used to report the date the PHA initially admitted the youth into the
program.
PHAs must also report leasing and expense information for these vouchers in
the VMS, Form HUD-52681B. The “Family Unification 2008/Forward –
MTW” or “Family Unification – Non MTW” category, as appropriate for your
PHA, must be used.
D. Length of Assistance. As required by statute, a FYI voucher may only be
used to provide housing assistance for youth for a maximum of 36 months.
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E. Administrative Plan. The PHA administrative plan must be amended in
accordance with applicable program regulations and requirements.
17. Paperwork Reduction Act. The information collection requirements contained in this
document have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). The OMB control
numbers are 2577-0169, 2502-0204, and 2502-0086. In accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act, HUD may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to, a collection of information unless the collection displays a currently valid
OMB control number.
18. Further Information. Questions concerning the policies described in this notice
may be directed to the Housing Voucher Management and Operations Division,
Office of Public Housing and Voucher Programs, FYI mailbox at FYI@hud.gov.
/s/
R. Hunter Kurtz, Assistant Secretary
for Public and Indian Housing
12
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English
PIH Notice § 2020-28 establishes the Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) initiative, through which HUD makes Housing Choice Vouchers available to eligible youth aged 18–24 who have left or are about to leave foster care and are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The program operates through partnerships among public housing agencies (PHAs), public child welfare agencies (PCWAs), and continuums of care, with up to $10 million in non-competitive funding available under the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020. Vouchers are limited to a maximum of 36 months of housing assistance per youth, and PHAs may receive up to 50 vouchers per fiscal year under this notice.
Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 7, 2026
Plain English — not legal advice.
For Property Managers
PHAs and property owners participating in the FYI program under PIH Notice § 2020-28 are expected to work within a structured partnership framework that includes a PCWA and, where applicable, a continuum of care. Compliant PHAs maintain an amended administrative plan, use the special program code 'FYI' in required HUD reporting forms, and ensure that FYI vouchers are reissued to other eligible youth upon turnover before notifying HUD of any reduction in assistance. PHAs that administer FUP must demonstrate at least 90 percent utilization to remain eligible, and all participating PHAs must track voucher issuance and admittance dates in accordance with the reporting requirements set out in this notice.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
For Tenants
Eligible youth under PIH Notice § 2020-28 are those aged 18–24 who have exited or are within 90 days of leaving foster care and who are homeless or at risk of homelessness at age 16 or older; certification of eligibility comes from a partnering PCWA. Youth who receive an FYI voucher are entitled to up to 36 months of rental assistance along with a commitment of supportive services—including life skills counseling, lease compliance guidance, and educational and career support—for that same period. Youth who believe they may qualify can reach out to their local PHA or PCWA, contact a local continuum of care, or consult a tenant-rights or youth-advocacy organization to learn more about how referrals and eligibility determinations are made under this notice.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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Related Rules
§ 574.605
§ 574.605 Applicability of uniform administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements for Federal awards.
§ 574.625
§ 574.625 Conflict of interest.
§ 574.645
§ 574.645 Coastal barriers.