June 2026 | Closing the Gap: Expanding Housing Opportunities for College Students with Foster CareExperience in Los Angeles County

Good River Partners is pleased to share our latest report examining the housing instability gap among college students who have experienced foster care in Los Angeles County. Within this report, you will find real-time statistics capturing the everyday reality of this housing gap, as well as the ecosystem of programs and partners working to close it.

Read the full report: HERE

Executive Summary

Young people with experience in foster care face significant barriers to completing higher education, with housing instability among the most persistent and consequential. Los Angeles County is home to an estimated 4,770 to 6,301 college students with experience in foster care, most of whom are enrolled in community colleges throughout the county.

Despite substantial support - more than $25 million invested in housing programs for youth with experience in foster care in L.A. County, nearly $16 million dedicated to foster youth campus support programs, and tens of millions of dollars available through financial aid programs – a massive unmet housing need is still persistent and present in the lives of students with foster care experience.

Existing housing programs for current and former foster youth in L.A. County have a combined capacity of approximately 3,326 beds, which falls short of the estimated 7,639 eligible young people. This leaves a housing gap of approximately 4,043 units countywide, with an estimated 1,347 needed for college students. 

Please feel free to share this report with your networks. If you have questions or would like to discuss the findings, don't hesitate to reach out.