Purpose
This notice provides guidance on the process Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) must follow to request targeted vouchers under the Melania Trump Foster Youth to Independence Initiative (FYI). This notice also sets forth the operating requirements for FYI. Through the FYI Initiative, HUD provides Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) for youth eligible under the Family Unification Program (FUP), subject to funding availability. Throughout this notice, these vouchers are referred to as FYI vouchers. This notice supersedes Notice PIH 2023-04, Foster Youth to Independence Initiative, and makes the following major changes:
- Renames the program to The Melania Trump Foster Youth to Independence Initiative, in accordance with the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026; however, the acronym FYI used to refer to the program remains unchanged
- Revises the definition of “at risk of becoming homeless” for the purpose of determining eligibility
- Amends the process by which PHAs may apply for $38.2 million in new incremental voucher assistance
- Removes the cap on the number of FYI vouchers that a PHA can request each Federal fiscal year, subject to availability of funding
- Clarifies the process by which PHAs may voluntarily return FYI noncompetitive vouchers and associated funding that is no longer needed to HUD and that HUD will issue future guidance on HUD-initiated recapture of unutilized FYI noncompetitive vouchers that are no longer needed
- Describes how HUD will reallocate recaptured funding, in accordance with the application process outlined in section XIV.
- Removes the utilization threshold submission requirement for the award of new vouchers to PHAs currently administering FYI and/or FUP vouchers
- Encourages PHAs to proactively amend their administrative plans to facilitate requesting FYI vouchers
- Clarifies the applicability of the mandatory and optional waivers and alternative requirements established in Notice PIH 2025-08, Statutory and Regulatory Waivers for FUP and FYI Vouchers