Former foster youth living in Sacramento County may be eligible to receive $900 per month for up to two years through the new Foster Youth Guaranteed Income Program announced yesterday by the City of Sacramento and United Way California Capital Region.
The $8 million program is funded by the City of Sacramento, paid for by Measure L: Sacramento’s Children’s Fund, and implemented by United Way California Capital Region to support former foster youth as they transition into stability and independence.
“Supporting former foster youth as they transition into adulthood is an investment in their future and our community’s future,” said Mayor Kevin McCarty. “We’re putting our Measure L funding where it can have the greatest impact. Thank you, Sacramento, for making this possible.”
“Foster youth in Sacramento have shown incredible resilience, and when they age out of care, the support around them too often disappears right when they need it most,” said Councilmember Mai Vang. “Thanks to Sacramento voters who passed Measure L, this program gives them a bridge to adulthood and trusts them to decide what they need, because every young person’s situation is different. To every foster youth in our city: we see you, we value you, and we are investing in your future.”
Applications are open Oct. 1-31, and applicants are encouraged to begin the process early. Those eligible will be selected by lottery and will be informed by the first week of November. Eligibility requirements and the application are available on United Way’s website.
“City staff have worked hard to put the Sacramento Children’s Fund into action and make sure it delivers meaningful support for young people,” said Julie Garen, interim program manager with the City’s Youth Development Administration. “This program will give current and former foster youth reliable income as they plan their next steps. We’re grateful to United Way for its experience and partnership in bringing this important program to life.”
United Way California Capital Region will administer the Foster Youth Guaranteed Income program, bringing together the local United Way’s experience working with foster youth with its expertise in guaranteed income. The nonprofit has been supporting foster youth for more than two decades and launched the first Guaranteed Income program of its kind in the California Capital Region in July 2021, following that up with additional rounds of funding in partnership with the City of Sacramento, County of Sacramento, UC Davis, Sacramento State and local nonprofits.
“Behind every statistic is a young person with dreams, talent and unlimited potential,” said Dr. Dawnté Early, president and CEO, United Way California Capital Region. “We often ask foster youth to overcome extraordinary challenges, and they do. But resilience shouldn’t be the only thing we ask of them. Today, Sacramento is sending a different message: We believe in you, we care about your future, and we’re willing to invest in your success. That’s what this partnership represents, and that’s what we hope every young person who applies feels.”
For more than 100 years, United Way California Capital Region has mobilized communities across Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties to create opportunities for children and families to thrive. Through programs focused on youth opportunity, housing stability, financial security and community resilience, the local United Way has served more than 100,000 people in the past five years alone. During that time, more than 61,000 children received support through United Way programs, nearly 4,000 individuals found or maintained stable housing, nearly $4 million was distributed through guaranteed income initiatives, and volunteer tax preparation services helped secure more than $41 million in tax refunds for local households.
In November 2022, voters approved city Measure L, which established the Sacramento Children’s Fund and requires the City to spend the equivalent of 40% of its local cannabis tax revenues on child and youth services. Measure L funded programs prioritize children and youth most impacted by poverty, violence and trauma.
