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DCT Legal Research
Other Publications
Enforcement and Accessibility of YHI Metrics in MD and GA (2026)
A policy is only as good as it is implemented and enforced. For young people navigating the transition from foster care or other systems, trying to access healthcare, or trying to maintain housing, it is unreasonable to condition the enjoyment and enforcement of their rights on their own capacity to challenge violations or even on the legal system (which many cannot access). To the extent possible, laws should be self-enforcing or at the very least, enforcement should be automatic and swift when violations are reported to the appropriate government agency.
Social Housing for Foster Youth Policy Landscape (2026)
Social housing may have benefits that are particularly helpful for young people seeking housing when transitioning from foster care. It is crucial to expand access to housing for foster youth because nearly 30% of youth experiencing homelessness have been in foster care. This report describes federal and state policies that can enable the development and use of social housing by youth transitioning from care and the international models we can learn from.
Activating Vacant Housing for Transition Age Youth (2026)
Housing supply is not strictly a construction shortage, it is a systems misalignment problem. California holds significant unused or underused residential capacity that local partners cannot meaningfully access. Vacancy activation refers to policies and operational strategies that bring long-vacant, underutilized, or idle residential units back into productive use, particularly as deeply affordable housing or Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH).
