DCFS started a new housing division to help foster youth looking for housing. But will it be effective?
Safe Place For Youth
, said she appreciates that DCFS has expanded its programs, because it’s been extremely difficult to place young people she works with into housing. But she has reservations on whether or not the new streamlined process will help because DCFS doesn’t operate enough of its own housing resources. I believe what should happen is DCFS should have their own funding, their own programs and their own their own services that they offer rather than just refer youth to the coordinated entry system, which is basically for anybody who becomes houseless.“Youth are not put into a special or more specific housing service category, they're just thrown in with the other youth that are either probation or DCFS involved, which just kind of makes the whole system more backed up,” Fay said.
Fay said many youth still need to go through L.A.’s coordinated entry system, a process that assigns a score to anyone looking for shelter or interim housing. The assessment asks things like a person’s traumatic experiences or substance/mental health issues. Fay said the lower a person’s score, the less likely they will be eligible for services.