Overview

The Family Unification Program (FUP) is a program under which Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) are provided to two different populations:

1. Families for whom the lack of adequate housing is a primary factor in:
   a. The imminent placement of the family’s child or children in out-of-home care, or
   b. The delay in the discharge of the child or children to the family from out-of-home care. 
   
   There is no time limitation on FUP family vouchers.
    
2. Youth at least 18 years old and not more than 21 years old who left foster care at age 16 or older and who lack adequate housing. FUP vouchers used by youth are limited, by statute to 18 months of housing assistance.

FUP funding is allocated through a competitive process; therefore, not all Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) administer the program.  Individuals who are interested in obtaining a FUP voucher should contact their local PHA to learn whether they administer the program.  A list of PHAs that have received FUP funding is available here "FUP PHAs and PHA Contact Information."

PHAs administer the FUP in partnership with Public Child Welfare Agencies (PCWAs) who are responsible for referring FUP families and youths to the PHA for determination of eligibility for rental assistance.  Once the PCWA makes the referral the PHA places the FUP applicant on its waiting list, determines whether the family or youth meets HCV program eligibility requirements, and conducts all other processes relating to voucher issuance and administration.

In addition to rental assistance, supportive services must be provided by the PCWA to FUP youths for the entire 18 months in which the youth participates in the program; examples of the skills targeted by these services include money management skills, job preparation, educational counseling, and proper nutrition and meal preparation.

FUP Fact Sheet: provides general program information for individuals who are interested in obtaining a FUP voucher.

Related Notices and Guidance

• Notice PIH 2011-52 (HA): Reporting, Turnover, and Other Requirements for the Family Unification Program
• Promising Strategies for FUP Administrators: Examples of Processes from Family Unification Programs at 6 PHAs/PCWAs
• FUP Notices of Funding Availability (NOFAs): Establishes specific program requirements and criteria and requirements for review and selection of FUP applications, among others.  Please note that only Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) that have an existing Annual Contributions Contract with HUD for HCVs may apply for FUP funding, not individuals or other organizations.
  • Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 FUP NOFA
  • FY 2009 FUP NOFA
  • FY 2010 FUP NOFA
    • FY 2010 FUP NOFA Technical Correction
    • FY 2010 Sample MOU (MS Word)
• FUP Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) provides answers to specific policy questions about FUP.

Webcasts

• FUP FY 2010 NOFA Satellite Broadcast 10-15-2010: Discusses differences between the FY 2010 NOFA and the FY 2009 NOFA, clarifies and discusses application requirements, and provides information on the General Section to HUD’s NOFAs and the logic model.  Below are the materials related to this Satellite Broadcast:
  • FY2010 FUP NOFA Presentation 1
  • FY2010 FUP NOFA Presentation 2
• View archived FUP Webcasts

FUP PHAs and PHA Contact Information

Below is a list of PHAs that have received funding for FUP vouchers.  FUP funding is allocated through a competitive process; therefore, not all PHAs administer the program.  Individuals who are interested in obtaining a FUP voucher may utilize this list to identify whether there is a PHA in their area that administers FUP. 

• FUP PHAs: provides a list of PHAs that have received funding for FUP vouchers under FY 2008, FY 2009, and FY 2010 FUP allocations.  For contact information for all PHAs by State, not only PHAs that administer FUP, click here.

Related Information

• HCV Forms and Guidance: Access to the HCV Program Guidebook, HCV Forms, and PIH Notices related to the HCV program.
• HCV Program Regulations: Access to HCV program regulations at 24 CFR Part 982.

Other Resources

• Department of Health and Human Service’s Child Welfare Information Gateway: Connects child welfare, adoption, and related professionals as well as the general public to information, resources, and tools covering topics on child welfare, housing, child abuse and neglect, out-of-home care, adoption, and more.
• Find Youth Info: Comprehensive website on youth issues developed by the Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs.
• Local Homeless Assistance by State 
• HUD's Homeless Resources Exchange: Provides information and resources on assisting people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. 
• Department of Health and Human Service's Homeless Resource Center