After I turned 18 in foster care in 2016, I became eligible for the Supervised Independent Living Placement (SILP) program, which is a form of direct cash assistance that goes to foster youth ages 18 to 21. 

Access to these funds was the only reason I was able to afford housing during those years and I have since moved on to secure an apartment and live independently.

California increased the upper age of foster care from 18 to 21 with the passage of Assembly Bill 12 in 2010. As part of that legislation, California created the Supervised Independent Living Placement (SILP), a new foster care placement exclusively for 18-to-21- year-olds that provides a greater selection of living options and a higher level of independence.

In Los Angeles County, foster kids entering adulthood generally confront this rocky transition period without the guidance and support of parents — or often any other adults who have been in their lives on a consistent basis. While all young people could probably use some help navigating the many issues that characterize early adulthood, foster youth are often left to fend more or less for themselves. 

Journalist turned philanthropy expert Daniel Heimpel wants to end the foster-care-to-homeless pipeline in Los Angeles County, and he has a plan to get philanthropy to pay for it — using its endowment dollars. 

I met Heimpel in the historic West Adams neighborhood on the edge of South L.A. I passed three people living in tents under the 405 Freeway on my way to meet him. Were they former foster youth? Quite possibly. Some 20% to 40% of kids in the foster care system in L.A. end up homeless as young adults, or face housing insecurity. Some 70,000 people are experiencing homelessness in L.A. County right now.

When the pastor of the South Los Angeles church unfurled his plans to build homeless housing, the council member assumed the visit was about money.

“It’s nice, but where are we going to come up with the cash?” Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson recalled asking.

Shortly after that meeting, Los Angeles voters passed Proposition HHH, a $1.2-billion bond measure to build homeless housing. Harris-Dawson called the pastor with the good news. “There’s money. Come by my office,” he said.

Some experts believe tackling foster care is a way to reduce the number of homeless people on our streets. A new report by Genesis LA outlines a plan for affordable housing for foster youth called "Scaling Housing."

A mix of philanthropic capital and government rental subsidies could close the housing gap that leads hundreds of emancipated foster care youth into homelessness each year, according to a study commissioned by seven California charitable foundations.

On "Inside the Issues," Spectrum News' Renee Eng speaks with journalist and foster care expert Daniel Heimpel about Assembly Bill 963, which aims to end the foster care to homelessness pipeline. 

Then, Maki Hsieh, president and CEO of The Asian Hall of Fame, talks about celebrating AAPI excellence. 

And later, Spectrum News' Sue Carpenter talks about the ongoing consutruction projects at LAX.

As a parting challenge to his successor, outgoing Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced in April the settlement of a longstanding lawsuit over homeless housing.

Their responses to the homelessness crisis may well determine the winner of next week’s primary election for mayor of the nation’s second-largest city. The frontrunners are Rick Caruso, a successful developer, and U.S. Rep. Karen Bass, who made Joe Biden’s short list for vice president

Los Angeles’ Grand Avenue is home to an incredible display of the city’s capacity to build. On one side of the street stand two new gleaming towers replete with multi-million-dollar “residences,” a luxury hotel, trendy restaurants, and high-end shops. The architect, Frank Gehry. The cost, $1 billion.