The Problem
Veterans and youth aging out of foster care face high risks of homelessness, unemployment, and mental health challenges in Idaho. Many veterans struggle with transition to civilian life, service-related injuries, or PTSD, while foster youth often lack stable housing, job skills, or support networks after turning 18. Current state programs are fragmented, underfunded, or slow to connect these groups to housing, training, and services. This leads to higher long-term costs in emergency services, corrections, and lost productivity while vulnerable Idahoans fall through cracks.
What I'll Do Day One as Governor
Sign an executive order to prioritize and coordinate transition support for veterans and foster youth using existing resources. Right away:
Direct the Department of Veterans Services and Department of Health and Welfare to create priority access to transitional housing, job training, and mental health services for veterans and former foster youth.
Partner with existing nonprofits, veteran organizations, and faith-based groups to expand support through matching grants funded by savings from other reforms.
Require agencies to submit quarterly reports on program outcomes (housing placements, employment rates, treatment completion), posted on Transparent Idaho.
Launch pilots in three to five counties with high veteran or foster youth populations to test coordinated care models, with results posted in ninety days.
Use savings from Budget Allocation, State Procurement and Contracts, Agency Performance Audits, and Grant and Nonprofit Funding reforms to fund expanded transition services (no new spending).
This uses powers I already have under executive oversight of state agencies and existing veteran and child welfare statutes. No new laws needed first.
How This Is Different From Now
Right now, support for veterans and foster youth is scattered, under-resourced, and often reactive. Coordination between agencies is limited, and many fall through gaps after discharge or aging out. This way creates priority pathways, faster access to existing services, and coordinated partnerships. It enforces existing veteran and child welfare laws more effectively, redirects savings to proven programs, and ensures vulnerable Idahoans get the help they need to become self-sufficient.
What I'll Push the Legislature For
Easy laws to make it permanent:
Require priority access to state-funded transitional housing, job training, and mental health services for veterans and former foster youth.
Authorize matching grants (funded by existing savings) for local providers that achieve high housing placement and employment outcomes.
Mandate quarterly public reporting of program outcomes on Transparent Idaho.
Strengthen coordination between state agencies and local organizations for transition support.
No big new spending. All expansion i
s funded by savings from waste-cutting reforms.
How We'll Check It Works
We will keep it honest with:
Public postings on Transparent Idaho showing program access, housing placements, employment outcomes, and treatment metrics.
Regular audits of fund use, service delivery, and agency compliance.
Citizens Task Force to review trends, gather input from veterans, former foster youth, providers, and families, and recommend improvements.
Yearly report on successful transitions, cost per person served, and reductions in homelessness or recidivism.
Everything open for anyone to look at and ask about.
How This Connects to Other Reforms
This reform creates priority pathways to housing, training, and services for veterans and foster youth, using savings from budget, procurement, audits, and grant reforms to expand support. Housing Supply Acceleration and Rental Fairness reforms provide stable housing options. Pathways Home reform shares transition resources. Workforce reform supports job training and placement. Mental health reform prioritizes treatment for these groups. This reform uses the efficiency from the others to reduce homelessness and unemployment risks.
Answers to Common Questions
Won't this be too expensive or require new funding?
No. All support uses savings from Budget Allocation, Procurement and Contracts, Audits, and Grant reforms. No new taxes or spending are required.
How do we prioritize veterans and foster youth without ignoring others?
Existing funds are reallocated to ensure priority access for these high-risk groups while maintaining services for all in need.
What about rural veterans or foster youth with limited providers?
The Citizens Task Force includes rural voices. Pilots and matching grants prioritize rural access and support local providers.
Does this connect to the Housing Supply Acceleration Reform?
Yes. More stable housing from increased supply provides a foundation for successful transitions and reduces homelessness risk.
How does this connect to the Rental Market Fairness Reform?
Improved rental transparency and accountability help veterans and foster youth find reliable housing options during transition.
How does this connect to agency performance audits?
Audits verify program outcomes, fund efficiency, and service delivery.
What about privacy concerns with reporting?
All data is anonymized and aggregated. Individual cases are protected under existing privacy laws.
How will we know if it is working?
Public reports on Transparent Idaho will track housing placements, employment rates, treatment completion, and reductions in homelessness. Citizen input helps measure real impact.
What if providers resist coordination?
The executive order requires agency cooperation. Partnerships are voluntary for nonprofits, with incentives for participation.
How do we avoid creating dependency?
Programs emphasize job training, employment, and stable housing to promote independence and long-term success.