Youth Development Program urges House Human Services to expand motel-voucher eligibility for former foster youth

Statewide Youth Development Program leaders testified to the Vermont House Human Services Committee on testimony about H.91, “an act relating to emergency temporary shelter,” and asked that youth ages 19 to 24 exiting state care be added to the list of people eligible for motel and hotel vouchers. Ellen Lehman, statewide director of the Youth Development Program (YDP), joined former director Jesse Warren and Youth Advocacy Coordinator Zoe Souder to describe YDP services, funding limits and the housing needs of youth with foster care experience.

The request came as YDP described its statewide service model and its shortfall in staff and funding. “Our mission is to ensure that youth with foster care experience enter adulthood with the necessary supports and that they need to build productive and fulfilling lives,” Lehman said. YDP operates under a contract with the Vermont Department for Children and Families (DCF) and subcontracts with local youth mental-health agencies to provide case management and flexible financial supports.

YDP serves youth ages 14–23 who are in custody or who exited custody at age 16 or older. The presenters said the program serves about 450 youth statewide annually—about 40% of the eligible population—and that YDP currently has 16 youth development coordinators statewide. YDP staff described several supports they offer: flexible grant funding for youth goals, an independent-living stipend of $500 per month (limited by budget), a partnership with the Vermont State Housing Authority for “independence” vouchers intended for youth with foster-care experience (30 vouchers currently available, with a long waiting list), and assistance facilitating extended foster-care arrangements and adult-living partner agreements.

Program leaders provided homelessness data the committee could use in considering H.91. Staff said that as of the start of fiscal year 2025 (October), 39 youth in the program had reported being unhoused (about 11% of participants). For fiscal year 2024, staff reported 82 youth had been reported as unhoused. YDP also reported a marked increase in youth engagement: between fiscal years 2023 and 2024 the program recorded a 228% increase in youth participation around leadership and advocacy and nearly a 140% increase in opportunities offered; by February 2025 engagement had doubled from the prior year.

Committee members asked about funding and prioritization. Representative Steady asked whether YDP funding is federal; staff answered it is a combination of federal and state funding, “primarily through the Chafee grant,” and other state funds administered through DCF. When asked how YDP identifies and prioritizes youth for services, Lehman said referrals come from DCF when youth enter custody at age 14 and that YDP prioritizes older transitional-age youth (17–18) because staff capacity is limited. Jesse Warren told the committee that the program would need more than double its current coordinator workforce to serve a majority of eligible youth.

Representatives also asked about the independent-living stipend and whether it could support youth who receive scholarship aid but still need room-and-board help for postsecondary education. YDP staff said the $500 stipend is not restricted only to youth who are literally homeless and can be used for groceries, rent or car-related costs, but current funds mean not every eligible youth receives it. Staff said they try to prioritize youth without housing but do not limit the stipend exclusively to those “hitting rock bottom.”

On extended foster-care supports, YDP explained three pathways: extended foster-care agreements that often allow youth to remain with foster parents to finish school; adult living partner (ALP) agreements in which a supportive adult over age 25 can house a youth (about 30 ALP arrangements active statewide); and the independent-living stipend. Staff noted some extended-care supports are tied to participation in productive activities, but that the ALP and stipend options can apply when youth are working rather than enrolled in school.

YDP leaders said they coordinate with DCF policy staff and community partners. Jesse Warren named Amanda Churchill Kipp, a DCF policy and practice specialist, as a frequent contact. YDP also identified partner agencies that provide direct case-management services across Vermont, including Spectrum Youth and Family Services, Lamoille Restorative Center, and Sunrise Family Resource Center in Bennington; YDP staff said they operate through Elevate Youth Services with Jubilee in Washington County.

Committee members thanked the witnesses for the presentation. The presenters asked the committee to consider H.91 and the proposed change to motel/hotel voucher eligibility for youth leaving state care; no formal committee action or vote occurred during the testimony.

YDP’s testimony underlined staff and funding constraints and the limited number of housing vouchers available to youth with foster-care experience—factors the committee may consider as it vets H.91 and related shelter and voucher policy.