Where can youth go to receive assistance with living independently: finding housing, making a budget, securing a job, etc.?

The Independent Living Program ILP is part of the Department of Child Safety (DCS). Youth will work with a DCS Child Safety Specialist to support them in preparing for their transition to independence. Youth may also be assigned an Independent Living Specialist through Arizona’s Children Association (AzCA) to assist with life skills training. With ILP, youth age 17.5 to age 21 may be eligible for the Independent Living Subsidy Program, a monthly payment that goes directly to the youth to help with living costs.

The Independent Living Subsidy Program (ILSP) is a monthly allowance that goes directly to youth to help cover living costs while they transition to independence. This allowance can be used for expenses such as rent, utilities, food and transportation just to name a few!

Transitional Independent Living Program (TILP) is part of Arizona’s Children Association (AzCA) and available to youth ages 18-21. The program provides support to youth who choose not to do extended foster care with DCS, but would still like some case management support. Youth work with an AzCA Independent Living Specialist to get advice and assistance on life decisions, such as looking for employment, applying for the Education and Training Voucher or finding a place to live.

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds a variety of career centers and Arizona @ Work Job Center sites which offer employment aid. DES also has a JOBS program through the local FAA office. For more information, visit the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

Local Public Housing Authorities have housing resources. The resources are for people who are low income, veterans, or victims of domestic violence. They are for former foster youth.

Transitional Living Programs (TLPs) are also in some areas of the state to help people age 18 and older. These programs are funded through federal, state and private money. TLPs are open to former foster youth. They are open to people who are currently homeless or at risk of homelessness. The following is a list of some community transitional housing resources.

Mesa:

• Turn a New Leaf

Phoenix:

Native American Connections

• Florence Crittenton, Inc.
• Tumbleweed, Inc.

Tucson:

• Our Family Services
• THRIVE Mentor Program
• Mentor Program (16-17 years old in DCS custody)
• Living Skills Training (16-20 years old who are still involved with DCS)
• Transitional Independence (18-20 years old who are out of care)
• The Phoenix Dream Center provides housing and other supports to help youth who have aged out of foster care.

Arizonans for Children in partnership with Take Charge America offers free classes in Financial Literacy and Aging Out. These interactive classes teach youths not only to budget money but how to apply for a job, write a compelling resume, excel at an interview and apply for college funding. Classes are for youth 11 to 18 years old and are taught throughout Maricopa County.

AZCEND’s Community Action Program (CAP) provides numerous services for families living in Chandler and Gilbert, including goal planning through life action maps, case management, job training, employment and education referrals, financial education, emergency financial assistance, utility assistance, eviction prevention, and shelter/housing referrals.

Reduced Rent Apartments -If you have income and can afford some rent, these properties provide quality housing at a reduced rent. To live in these properties you may have to meet the minimum and maximum income ranges. They are owned by the city of Phoenix but managed by a private property manager.

The Furniture Bank is a Phoenix-based charity that assists the less fortunate moving into housing by providing furniture and household items. Recipients are required to participate financially to receive furniture (including paying a portion of the moving fee) and must use The Furniture Bank’s contracted pre-approved moving company.

Furnishing Dignity (Phoenix) collects and redistributes donated household furnishings (new and or gently used) to people in need. Their mission is to help individuals and families dwell in dignity by providing furnishings and other essential household items to transform a house into a home.

OCJ Kids’ (Opportunity Community and Justice for Kids) mission is to equip foster and at-risk children and youth by providing them tools, resources, and positive role models to succeed and excel in every area of life. Their Transition Success Centers supply hygiene Welcome Kits, Transitional Suitcases, Kinship Kits, Emergency Overnight Sleep Kits, and clothing items for children and youth in the foster care system. Their offices are located in Phoenix but they have Transition Success Centers in 13 Arizona Counties (all counties except La Paz and Santa Cruz).

The free FoolProof Solo program consists of 18 highly interactive online sessions called modules and offers valuable lessons on 16 topics—from credit cards to advertising and from renting your first apartment to retirement. Each module takes about 45 minutes to complete. You can use one or all, and you can stop and start at any time and work on any device with web access.