John Burton Advocates for Youth

Did you know May was National Foster Care Awareness Month? 1 out of every 4 youth in foster care will become homeless within 4 years of aging out of foster care.

Since 2019, the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) program has been a statewide resource with a youth set-aside that has provided $387 million in funding to serve youth experiencing homelessness. And since June 2024, HHAP has served over 35,000 unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness. HHAP is a vital safety net for California’s foster youth who slip into homelessness.

Join JBAY in reducing youth homelessness by calling or emailing Governor Gavin Newsom om’s office at (916) 445-2841 or [email protected]. Tell the Governor you request the final budget include $1 billion in funding for HHAP to reduce youth homelessness!

Senator Monique Limón Speaker Robert Rivas Senator John Laird Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel Gavin Newsom

HHAP = Hope!

In response to the Governor’s May Revise, JBAY led a coalition of youth advocates and homeless youth service providers to the Capitol to share how the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) program has contributed to a 24% reduction in youth homelessness in California.

JBAY’s coalition provided public comment at both the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #5 (Sharon Quirk-Silva) and Senate Budget Subcommittee #4 (Melissa Hurtado) hearings to share support for Assemblymember Chris Ward Ward budget request to establish an ongoing $80 million minimum funding guarantee for youth homelessness, leveraging the youth set-aside in HHAP.We are grateful for Assemblymember Ward’s leadership on this request and for his continued advocacy for youth across California.

To join the coalition letter, sign on here (https://tinyurl.com/5fp7fbc8) and to attend the next virtual coalition meeting on Wednesday’s at 11am e-mail [email protected].

Thank you to Governor Gavin Newsom for including funding for the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) Round 7 program in the May Revise. The impact of HHAP is clear - it led to a 24% reduction in youth homelessness, and a 42% percent reduction in unsheltered youth homelessness. JBAY is urging state leaders to support Assemblymember Ward’s budget request to secure an $80 million ongoing minimum funding guarantee for youth experiencing homelessness. Together, we can close the pipeline to chronic homelessness.

The Governor’s May Revise maintains his proposed $500 million investment in HHAP for 2026-27. If the Governor’s budget is adopted and Assemblymember Ward’s proposal is adopted, then the minimum funding guarantee would trigger. This additional investment will ensure that $80 million is available for youth homelessness providers to keep youth housed and off the streets in California. However, funding would come with new local requirements for local governments including housing planning compliance, encampment policies, pro-housing reforms, and local funding matches.

There is still time to advocate for more funding for youth experiencing homelessness! Join JBAY in supporting the budget request sign on here: https://jbay.org/2026-advocacy/.

Please join us for John Burton Advocates for Youth’s Free Tax Preparation and Self-Filing Event to receive assistance with your taxes from IRS-Certified VITA Volunteers.

Current and former foster youth are receiving an average tax return of $1,857 for the 2025 tax year!

The event is open to California TAY, current and former foster youth, youth experiencing or at-risk of homelessness, and out of home placement probation youth.

File with support from a volunteer!
Get a refund of some of the taxes you paid last year, even if you didn’t make a lot of money.

Get even more money back from valuable tax credits like the CA Foster Youth Tax Credit!

For more info contact Imelda: [email protected]

On March 19th, the California State Senate adjourned in memory of our namesake, Senator John Burton.

For everyone at JBAY, this moment hit deeply. His unwavering belief in young people — especially those who have experienced foster care or faced housing instability — drove real change: investments in higher education, housing, basic needs, and pathways to success that thousands rely on today.

That legacy lives on in our work. Since JBAY began, we’ve helped pass 65 legislative reforms and secure $3.6 billion in new investments for youth across California.

As the Senate honored his life, we’re reminded: legacy isn’t just what you leave behind — it’s what we carry forward.

We are proud to carry his name and remain relentlessly committed to continuing the fight.

Read the full reflection: https://jbay.org/the-senate-adjourns-but-our-work-continues/

JBAY was at the 2026 California Foster Youth Education Summit! 💙

Christina Lomeli, Senior Project Manager of Higher Education, and Imelda Islas-Olivo, Senior Project Manager of Housing and Economic Mobility, presented in the workshop:

“Real Money, Real Impact: Unlocking California’s Financial Resources for Foster Youth”

In this interactive session, they shared JBAY’s “Money on the Table” framework to help professionals identify critical financial resources available to foster youth — including the CalKIDS Scholarship and Foster Youth Tax Credit. Participants worked through real-world scenarios to uncover common barriers and design stronger cross-system strategies between K–12, child welfare, and higher education.

The workshop emphasized how these financial tools, when fully leveraged during the transition to college, can help young people move from surviving to truly thriving.

Proud of our team for equipping advocates and educators with practical tools to turn policy into real opportunity for foster youth.

🎓 Current & Former Foster Youth in LA County — if you earned an Associate’s degree, Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree or completed a certificate program this 2025-26 academic year, this event is for you!

JBAY is hosting the LA College Graduation Celebration on Friday, May 29, 2026 from 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM at Cal State LA.

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Daisy Gonzales as our Keynote Speaker!

A former foster youth herself, Dr. Gonzales is the Executive Director of the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). She is a passionate advocate for educational equity and has dedicated her career to expanding access to financial aid and higher education opportunities for students from underserved communities — including foster youth. Her story and leadership continue to inspire thousands across California.

Come celebrate your hard work, resilience, and success! Enjoy a heartfelt ceremony, receive an award and special gift, and join us for a delicious buffet luncheon surrounded by people who truly understand your journey.

Register by May 22, 2026 → https://form.jotform.com/260756049996171

Let’s make this a day to remember and honor everything you’ve accomplished! 💙

Good news! Thank you to Senate Pro Tem Senator Monique Limón, Speaker Robert Rivas, Senator John Laird, and Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel for including the Homeless Housing, Assistance Prevention (HHAP) program in the Senate and Assembly 2026-27 budget plans. The HHAP youth set-aside has led to a 24% reduction in youth homelessness statewide, and California must preserve the progress made. JBAY is urging state leaders to include Assemblymember Chris Ward's budget request for an going $80 million youth homelessness funding guarantee. To join JBAY in supporting the budget request sign on here: https://jbay.org/2026-advocacy/.

The Senate’s “Foundation for the Future” plan proposes $1 billion for HHAP – for both this coming fiscal year and the next. The Assembly’s “Road Map to a Responsible and Compassionate Budget” lists HHAP as a funding priority and a proven solution to move people into stable housing. Through HHAP investments, the state will continue to make progress on serving youth experiencing homelessness.

Link to the Senate plan:https://democrats.senate.ca.gov/sites/democrats.senate.ca.gov/files/iu/FINAL-FFTF-Budget.pdf

Link to the Assembly plan:https://abgt.assembly.ca.gov/system/files/2026-05/assembly-democrats-budget-road-map.pdf

Good news! Thank you to Senate Pro Tem Monique Limón, Speaker Robert Rivas, Senator John Laird, and Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel for including the Homeless Housing, Assistance Prevention (HHAP) program in the Senate and Assembly 2026-27 budget plans. The HHAP youth set-aside has led to a 24% reduction in youth homelessness statewide, and California must preserve the progress made. JBAY is urging state leaders to include Assemblymember Ward’s budget request for an going $80 million youth homelessness funding guarantee. To join JBAY in supporting the budget request sign on here: https://jbay.org/2026-advocacy/.

The Senate’s “Foundation for the Future” plan proposes $1 billion for HHAP – for both this coming fiscal year and the next. The Assembly’s “Road Map to a Responsible and Compassionate Budget” lists HHAP as a funding priority and a proven solution to move people into stable housing. Through HHAP investments, the state will continue to make progress on serving youth experiencing homelessness.

Link to the Senate plan:https://democrats.senate.ca.gov/sites/democrats.senate.ca.gov/files/iu/FINAL-FFTF-Budget.pdf

Link to the Assembly plan:https://abgt.assembly.ca.gov/system/files/2026-05/assembly-democrats-budget-road-map.pdf