In July of last year, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) launched a new initiative to help young adults in underprivileged communities. President Donald Trump’s pledge to help those who need it most through the Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Initiative reaffirms that commitment.
The FYI initiative helps vulnerable young adults find housing as they age out of foster care, instead of being left out on the street. It offers housing vouchers to public housing authorities to assist young men and women who leave the foster care system without a home to go to. In a pivotal moment in their lives, these vouchers can mean the difference between a life of homelessness, crime and addiction verses becoming a contributing member of our community.
I was pleased to see first steps made in the great State of Alabama this year, as the Birmingham Housing Authority received over $16,000 for this initiative.
I was more than proud to see President Trump and HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson invest in a program to help our young people have the stability necessary to succeed and be productive citizens in our society.
This is another strong step forward by President Trump, following his historic First Step Act, to get young adults — especially those of color — out of our criminal justice system and into our economy. Too many young men from our underprivileged communities are left with little hope and fewer options.
While Democrats and the media push their divisive and hateful narrative in an attempt to tear us apart in pursuit of their partisan political agenda, I will continue to work with President Trump to serve everyone in our communities and ensure more economic opportunity for all Alabamians and Americans.
Congressman Mike Rogers (AL-03) serves in the United States House of Representatives, where he is the ranking member of the Committee on Homeland Security and a senior member of the Armed Services Committee
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