If you are a minor, you do not have the legal right to rent or lease an apartment on your own.
If you are presently in DCF care (live in a foster or group home), then DCF is your legal guardian and they are responsible for your housing. DCF does not usually allow minors in their care to live independently, but independent living is supported by DCF once a minor turns 18 (and graduates high school or is working regularly at a paying job).
If you remain in school or are working, you are usually enrolled in one of two programs run by DCF … either the CHAP or the CHEER program. Both programs support your housing needs, but you need to committed to DCF (placed in DCF custody by the court) before you turn 18. These programs can continue to support your housing needs until you turn 23.
You might be eligible for a housing assistance voucher, such as a Section 8 voucher, once you begin transitioning out of foster care. Please ask your DCF social worker for information about obtaining a voucher that you can use once you exit DCF care.
There are several options for affordable housing in Connecticut, but none are guaranteed. First, you might be eligible for subsidized housing through a housing voucher program, such as the Section Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8). Section 8 vouchers are difficult to get, so your best bet is to contact 2-1-1 and ask if there is an open application program for Section 8 vouchers in your area.
You also may qualify for public housing, which is usually run by the housing authority of the town or city where you live. You can look for your town’s housing authority (or one nearby) by going here, or by calling 2-1-1.
There are also affordable housing programs scattered throughout the state that might be able to assist you in finding either subsidized or low-income housing. You can find a partial list of those programs here or on 2-1-1 Infoline’s webpage by going here.
If you are a parent and there is open DCF case, and housing issues are preventing you from reunifying with your child (or children), then DCF might be able to provide you with a Section 18 voucher to assist in the reunification process.
