The Reality of Aging Out of Foster Care

I’ve witnessed what happens when a system fails the very people it was designed to protect. When we talk about foster care, we don’t often talk about what happens when the support disappears—when the check stops coming, when the caseworker moves on, and when the system that once dictated every move suddenly lets go. Aging out of foster care isn’t a transition.

It’s a cliff. And too many young people are being pushed off without a parachute.

Every year, over 23,000 young adults in the United States age out of foster care. In Michigan alone, about 1,000 youth exit the system annually without a clear plan, without a stable home, and without the kind of safety net that every young person deserves.

What’s worse is that most of us don’t see it happening—because these young people aren’t making headlines. They’re struggling in silence, trying to figure out how to survive in a world that was never built for them.

Nowhere to Go, No One to Turn To

Picture this: You’re 18 years old. You have no credit history, no co-signer, and no financial backup. But you’re expected to rent an apartment, find a job, and start life on your own. The problem? Landlords won’t rent to you. Employers won’t hire you without experience. And you don’t have a couch to crash on when things fall apart.

This isn’t a hypothetical. A University of Chicago study found that 1 in 4 youth who age out of foster care will experience homelessness within two years.

The barriers to stability are relentless:

• Landlords demand co-signers, deposits, and rental history—things most foster youth don’t have.

• Housing programs exist, but they’re underfunded, have strict eligibility requirements, and can take months to approve applications.

• Without a steady income, even temporary housing becomes impossible to afford.

  
  

Meanwhile, Germany for example ensures that foster youth have access to government-subsidized housing until they reach financial independence. In the U.S., youth are left to figure it out alone. And too often, the result is the same: shelters, the streets, or a revolving door of instability that lasts for years.

Trying to Build a Career While Fighting to Survive

It’s hard enough finding a job with no connections, no resume, and no professional guidance. But imagine trying to do it while also struggling to find a place to sleep at night. This is the reality for thousands of youth who age out of foster care every year.

• Princeton University found that 60% of former foster youth are unemployed by age 21.

• For those who do find work, most are stuck in unstable, low-wage jobs with no benefits or long-term growth.

• Without financial literacy education, managing money and avoiding debt becomes nearly impossible.

  
  

In countries like Sweden, foster youth are placed in structured career mentorship programs that connect them with sustainable jobs. Here? It’s sink or swim. And too many are sinking.

We don’t talk enough about what it means to grow up in constant uncertainty—bouncing between homes, never knowing who to trust, and carrying the weight of rejection. The truth is, most foster youth don’t just age out of the system. They age out of survival mode, into a world that has no idea what they’ve been through.

Studies from Yale show that former foster youth are twice as likely to suffer from PTSD as combat veterans. Let that sink in.

• Depression and anxiety are common, but therapy is expensive and rarely covered for those who have aged out.

• Many suffer from PTSD symptoms, including difficulty trusting others, trouble forming relationships, and emotional detachment.

• A University of Michigan study found that youth who receive mental health support after aging out are 40% more likely to maintain stable housing and employment.

  
  

But support systems aren’t just lacking—they’re disappearing altogether. When the state stops funding care, therapy often stops too. And without help, many turn to whatever coping mechanisms they can find—some healthy, many not.

The Reality of Violence and Exploitation

No one should be surprised that foster youth are overrepresented in the criminal justice system—because when you’re left to fend for yourself with no guidance, no protection, and no support, survival can mean making choices that lead to a jail cell instead of a diploma.

• The University of Chicago found that 30% of foster youth who age out will be arrested within two years.

• Harvard’s research found that over 50% of young men aging out of care will be involved in violent altercations within three years, either as victims or aggressors.

• Juvenile justice data shows that former foster youth are twice as likely to be incarcerated as their peers.

  
  

And for young women, the dangers look different but are just as devastating. Columbia University reports that over 60% of human trafficking victims in the U.S. have spent time in foster care. Without a safe place to go, many are lured into situations that exploit their desperation for stability.

We Know the Problem. So Why Haven’t We Fixed It?

We know the statistics. We know the outcomes. And yet, year after year, thousands of young adults are left to fend for themselves after aging out of foster care. The foster care system isn’t broken—it’s incomplete. It does just enough to keep children in temporary placements, but it fails to prepare them for the reality of adulthood.

If we want to stop the cycle of homelessness, incarceration, and poverty, we have to rethink what re-entry into society actually looks like for these young adults.

1. Housing: The Foundation for Stability

No one can build a life if they don’t have a place to sleep at night. It’s that simple.

Solutions:

• Guaranteed transitional housing for at least three years post-foster care.

• Host home programs & rent-assistance initiatives.

• Housing-first initiatives for at-risk youth.

  
  

2. Career Support: A Job is More Than a Paycheck—It’s a Lifeline

Solutions:

• Paid apprenticeships & mentorship-based employment programs.

• Mandatory financial literacy & job readiness training.

• Guaranteed career pathways through higher education or trade schools.

  
  

3. Violence Prevention & Legal Advocacy: Keeping Youth Out of the Criminal Justice System

Solutions:

• On-demand legal advocacy for foster youth.

• Community-based violence prevention programs.

• Restorative justice alternatives to incarceration.

  
  

Aging out of foster care isn’t just about turning 18—it’s about being handed adulthood without a safety net. No stable home, no career guidance, no legal protection.

We can’t keep sending young adults into the world unprepared and then blame them when they struggle. It’s time to stop the cycle and start building real solutions.

Knowledge is power, do something great with it.

-Troy Rienstra