To utilize an FYI voucher, a young adult must meet certain criteria:

1) Must be between the ages of 18-24 years old (have not reached your 25th birthday)

2) Left foster care, or will leave foster care within 90 days

3) Is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless at age 16 or older

To obtain the voucher, a young adult must go through the following steps:

1. Contact your DCS caseworker and obtain an official referral

2. Complete the application to the Public Housing Authority (PHA)

   a) Fill out required background check, income verification, and family composition forms

3. Attend a required voucher briefing

4. Collect your FYI voucher document
   a) This will typically give you an initial 60 to 120 days to find an apartment before it expires

5. Find an apartment that meets the HUD rent limits and accepts housing choice vouchers

6. Submit a request for tenancy approval
   a) Fill out the form with your landlord and immediately return it to the Housing Authority to pause your voucher expiration clock

7. Pass the housing inspection

8. Sign the lease and contract

9. Begin paying monthly rent payments to the landlord, which will usually be around 30% of your adjusted monthly income

This voucher is good for up to 36 months, but a 24 month extension of the voucher can be awarded if you meet one of the following criteria:

• If you are participating in an FSS program

• If a Public Housing authority is either (1) not carrying out an FSS program, or (2) you have been unable to enroll in the FSS program AND you engaged in education, workforce development, or employment activities for at least 9 months of the 12-month period preceding the extension (in the final year of your original voucher)

• If you are responsible for the care of a dependent child under the age of 6, or for the care of an incapacitated person

• If you are regularly and actively participating in a drug addiction or alcohol treatment and rehabilitation program

• If you are incapable of complying with the requirement to participate in an FSS program or engage in education, workforce development, or employment activities, as applicable, due to a documented medical condition

Here is a tool that can help you find affordable properties near you.

Income-Based

• Typically, you will pay 30% of your adjusted monthly income

• If your income changes, your rent may go up or down

• EXAMPLE: You earn $1,200 per month. Your rent may be around $360 per month (30% of your income). If you lose your job, your rent could go down. If you get a promotion, your rent could go up.

Income-Restricted

• This means your income must be below a certain limit to qualify, but your rent is not directly based on your income

• As long as your income stays below the program’s limit, you can live there

• Rent usually remains the same regardless of whether you earn more or less during the lease term

• EXAMPLE: To qualify, you may need to earn less than a certain amount. The rent is set at $800 per month. As long as you are below the income limit, you pay $800 in rent regardless of if you are making $800 a month or $1,800 a month

If you aged out of foster care in Tennessee, or in any other state, you are eligible for TennCare coverage until you are 26 years old. Under TennCare, you are eligible for full insurance benefits, including:

• Screening, prevention, and early intervention services

• Diagnostic services and treatment for physical and mental health conditions

To apply for TennCare, visit this link. For more information, download this informational flyer with more information on TennCare.