Transitional Housing Program-Plus(THP-PLUS) and Housing Navigation and Maintenance Program (HNMP)

The County of Solano, Department of Health and Social Services (H&SS), Child Welfare Services (CWS) hereinafter referred to as the “County,” intends to secure a contract with a qualified proposer, to provide Transitional Housing Program-Plus (THP-Plus) services to young adults in Solano County. THP-Plus is a transitional housing program for young adults who have exited foster care (including those supervised by Probation) on or after their 18 ^th birthday and are not yet 25 years of age. The program is designed to ensure young adults have a safe living environment to further develop life skills related to independence, prevent homelessness, and better achieve the outcomes developed in their Transitional Independent Living Plans (TILP).

The County would like to reduce the barriers and increase access to housing programs; therefore the county seeks to secure a contract with a qualified proposer to provide Housing Navigation and Maintenance Program (HNMP) to support youth stabilize housing while assisting them to address issues contributing to instability in housing and/or prior placement. In partnership with the Housing Authority of Vacaville, we have dedicated five (5) Family Unification Program vouchers to the HNMP program. We are seeking a proposer to provide case management to these five youth while they are enrolled in HNMP.

Solano County Child Welfare Services is committed to delivering our services with a strong emphasis on Race Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI). We not only embrace but also encourage our community partners to similarly employ the REDI framework when serving families and children. Our deliberate decision to center our efforts on REDI, while not excluding other important factors, is driven by our determination to tackle disparities, disproportionalities, and various manifestations of racism. The REDI approach empowers us to craft policies, implement practices, and develop strategies that foster equal opportunities for all while fostering stronger families and engaging with our community partners.

THP-Plus

The Transitional Housing Program-Plus (THP-Plus) was established as a statewide program by the California State Legislature in 2001 to address the needs of a growing yet largely overlooked group of at-risk young adults: those who “age out” or “emancipate” from the state’s foster care system. Although foster care was subsequently extended until age 21 in 2012, foster youth continued to face challenges securing and maintaining housing after exiting foster care. Some foster youth chose to exit at age 18 and THP-Plus is available to assist them with case management and support. Other youth might choose to enter THP-Plus later.

The THP-Plus program provides affordable housing and comprehensive supportive services for up to 36 cumulative months to help former foster care and probation youth ages 18 to 25 make a successful transition from the child welfare and probation systems to independent living. THP-Plus serves over 2,000 youth annually in most California counties (John Burton Foundation, https://www.jbaforyouth.org/thp-history/ ). With the passage of the 2022-2023 State Budget, additional funding was made available for the THP-Plus programs. This increased funding supports provisions in SB187 that mandate the 36-month/age 25 duration and eliminates certain educational requirements.

The goal of the transitional housing programs in Solano County is to provide independent living opportunities for eligible participants to gain and practice life skills in a safe environment and to assist with the transition from dependency to self-sufficiency through supervised housing and supportive services. These services include, but are not limited to, case management, educational support, employment assistance and crisis intervention. Eligible participants are young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 who have aged out of the Juvenile Dependency or have exited the Juvenile Justice systems and will benefit from affordable housing while maintaining employment and/or enrollment in post-secondary education [1] . At the completion of the program, participants will have made significant steps towards independently sustaining a successful life by utilizing all of the services available to them while participating in THP-Plus. Young adults who choose to participate in Extended Foster Care and become Non-minor Dependents will be eligible for THP-Plus program only after dependency is dismissed.

THP-Plus programs are not licensed but are certified by the county social services agency and the home receives a fire clearance, if required. A housing model could include apartments, single-family dwellings, condominiums, college dormitories, and host family models (living with people you know). Housing shelters or temporary accommodations with friends would not be considered a housing model [2] .