Georgia’s foster system should be a sanctuary for our most vulnerable, guiding children and young adults toward brighter futures. Yet, it falters, leaving countless young lives adrift, yearning for the stability and support they deserve.
State Rep. Inga Willis
It is especially disheartening to see the latest failure by our state’s foster care system. A recent media investigation revealed alarming shortcomings in our state’s housing voucher program that is designed to help young adults aging out of foster care. The program is supposed to provide financial assistance to help the more than 600 young adults each year secure stable housing as they transition out of the foster system and into independence. Many have been left waiting for months and, in the meantime, have struggled to find shelter or were forced into unsafe living conditions.
The report highlighted that of the more-than 700 federal housing assistance vouchers Georgia is eligible to receive, only three had been secured. Since the report, a few more have been secured, yet they represent only a sliver—likely less than 1%—of federal funding meant to expand opportunity and mobility for young adults in our state. No matter how you view it, the statistic is unsettling.
The investigation highlighted that several housing authorities – including Fulton, which serves my district – have said that they’ve been focused on other voucher programs instead. Almost all of the eligible housing authorities also pointed to a lack of communication about the program from Georgia’s Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS)
This is a critical moment in the lives of these young people and our government is failing them. Imagine stepping into adulthood, already facing an uphill battle, and the very system being funded to help you is instead making your life more difficult. Georgia’s foster care system should be a safety net, but too often it feels like a trap door.
This isn’t the first dark chapter in Georgia’s foster care story. Last year, a U.S. Senate report painted a stark picture of a system in crisis—children neglected, misplaced in unsafe homes, and left to navigate life alone. The findings were heartbreaking, a call for sweeping change. And yet, here we stand once more, watching as the system falters, failing those who most need its protection.
The U.S. Senate report highlighted many failings—from DFCS falling short in protecting vulnerable children from abuse and neglect, to Amerigroup Community Care, the state’s insurer for foster children, struggling to fulfill its obligations.
From healthcare delivery to housing vouchers, there seems to be a systemic breakdown that’s leaving foster care youth with nowhere to turn. This is unacceptable.
It’s time for accountability—from the top down and the inside out. This means holding our state government to task for overseeing this broken system and demanding more from companies like Amerigroup, entrusted to manage these essential programs. These aren’t mere administrative oversights; they are failures that profoundly shape the lives and futures of young people in our state.
As we call for reform, we must also honor those who’ve cast light on these shadows. The media has courageously exposed these injustices, giving voice to the voiceless. Through its investigation, the U.S. Congress has held Georgia’s foster care system to account, and our state legislature has made initial strides toward change—but much remains unfinished.
I am proud to continue raising these issues, pressing for true reform. We can no longer let young lives slip through the cracks. The time for action is now, and the responsibility is shared—by our government, our businesses, and our communities—to ensure Georgia’s foster care system truly serves those it was built to protect.
State Rep. Inga Willis is a Democrat representing Atlanta’s District 55. She was first elected in 2022.
