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. For a period not to exceed 36 months, otherwise eligible youths who have attained at least
      18 years and not more than 24 years of age and who have left foster care, or will leave foster care
      within 90 days, in accordance with a transition plan described in section 475(5)(H) of the Social
      Security Act, and is homeless or is at risk of becoming homeless at age 16 or older.

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. 

FUP PHAs and PHA Contact Information

FUP Awards All Years: provides a list of PHAs that have been awarded 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. For contact information for all PHAs by State, not only PHAs that administer FUP, click here. 

FUP Youth and Family Self-Sufficiency Program Demonstration

(The deadline for applications to participate in the demonstration closed on Friday, July 15, 2016.)

In the FY2015 Appropriations Act for HUD, Congress authorized a demonstration to test the effectiveness of combining Housing Choice Vouchers for eligible youth lacking adequate housing under the Family Unification Program (FUP) with assistance under the Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) program.  

• Notice PIH 2016-1: Outlines the demonstration and gives information on how to apply to participate
• FUP FSS Demonstration Webinar Slides
• FUP_FSS Demonstration Approved PHAs (MS Excel)

Related Notices and Guidance

• (Updated) FUP Questions and Answers (QAs) provides answers to specific policy questions about FUP.
• Promising Strategies for FUP Administrators: Examples of Processes from Family Unification Programs at 6 PHAs/PCWAs
• Notice PIH 2011-52 (HA): Reporting, Turnover, and Other Requirements for the Family Unification Program

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.
• 2019 FUP NOFA
  • ​2019 FUP NOFA Q&A
• FUP Awards Announcement (FY17and FY18) 
• ​Revision to FUP NOFA for FY17 and FY18
  • Family Unification Program Notice of Funding Availability for Fiscal Years 2017 and 2018
    Sample Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)– Family Unification Program
  • FUP NOFA FAQs, updated 7/23/2018
• ​Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 FUP NOFA
  • FY 2010 FUP NOFA Technical Correction
  • FY 2010 Sample MOU (MS Word)
• FY 2008 FUP NOFA
• FY 2009 FUP NOFA

Webcasts

2019 Family Unification Program NOFA Webinar

Part I

Part II

The webinar slides are available below. If you experience issues with the webinar, please email 2019FUPNOFA@hud.gov.

2019 FUP NOFA Presentation Slides  (Part I and Part II)

Other Webcasts

• Using the Family Unification Program (FUP) to Support Youth Aging out of Foster Care - Discusses results from HUD’s recent research project Youth Aging out of Foster Care as well as answers questions about administering the FUP program, focused on issues around FUP-Youth.
• Previous Webcasts & Broadcast Slides

Related Information

• Youth Aging out of Foster Care: Website for HUD’s research project on the housing needs of the nearly 30,000 youth who “age out” of the foster care system each year.
• HCV Program Regulations: Access to HCV program regulations at 24 CFR Part 982.

Other Resources

• Register for the Family Unification Program (FUP) listserv by clicking here.
• 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.
• (NEW) Youth.gov is the the U.S. government website that helps you create, maintain, and strengthen effective youth programs
  • Transition & Aging Out is one of the many youth topics on Youth.gov 
• Local Homeless Assistance by State
• HUD 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