The U.S. state of California has launched a new trust fund programme designed to support foster youth and children who have lost a parent or caregiver due to COVID-19 as they transition into adulthood.
The programme, called HOPE — short for Hope, Opportunity, Perseverance and Empowerment — was created through legislation passed in 2022 and is intended to provide early financial support to some of the state’s most vulnerable young people. It is estimated that around 56,000 children could be eligible.
Under the scheme, eligible participants will receive $3,000 placed into a trust account that becomes accessible when they turn 18. The goal is to help recipients begin adult life with a basic financial foundation that can be used for education, housing, or other essential needs.
The initiative is overseen by California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, who chairs the HOPE programme. She described the fund as a way to reduce long-term financial instability among foster youth and children affected by pandemic-related bereavement.
Eligibility includes children who have spent at least 18 months in foster care, those whose family reunification services have been terminated, and those who have lost a parent or primary caregiver due to COVID-19.
Applications for the fund are available through the state’s HOPE programme portal, with additional information provided by the California State Treasurer’s office.
