By: Steven Molinari, Policy Analyst

July 27, 2026 — Today, HUD published Notice PIH 2026-19, which provides guidance for public housing agencies (PHAs) in requesting targeted vouchers under the Melania Trump Foster Youth to Independence Initiative.

This notice supersedes Notice PIH 2023-04 and includes several changes. Besides renaming the Foster Youth to Independence Initiative to the Melania Trump Foster Youth to Independence Initiative (FYI) the notice also makes the following changes:

• Revises the definition of “at risk of becoming homeless” for the purpose of determining eligibility;
• Amends the process by which PHAs may apply for $38.2 million in new incremental voucher assistance;
• Removes the cap on the number of FYI vouchers that a PHA can request each Federal fiscal year;
• Clarifies the process by which PHAs may voluntarily return unused funds;
• Describes how HUD will reallocate recaptured funding;
• Removes the utilization threshold submission requirement for new voucher awards for PHAs currently administering FYI vouchers and/or Family Unification Program (FUP) vouchers;
• Encourages PHAs to amend their administrative plans to facilitate requesting FYI vouchers;
• Clarifies the applicability of the mandatory and optional waivers and alternative requirements established in Notice PIH 2025-08.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for funds, a PHA must have an existing Annual Contribution Contract (ACC) with HUD for HCVs. PHAs applying for assistance under this notice must first enter into a partnership agreement with a public child welfare agency (PCWA). HUD strongly encourages that PHAs incorporate adding other partners, such as State or local governments, schools, philanthropic and faith-based organizations, and CoCs.

Funding
Through the notice, HUD makes $38.2 million available on a
noncompetitive basis for the FUP program. The department will accept and process PHA requests for FYI noncompetitive vouchers on a rolling basis while funds remain available.

Any recaptured FYI assistance awarded on a noncompetitive basis will be reallocated by HUD.

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