call toll free 877-313-3688
Supervised Independent Living (SIL) is a type of extended foster care placement. In SIL, young adults live on their own while still getting casework and support services. SIL placements can be in apartments, dorms, or houses; there are several SIL providers and they have flexibility to set up the different kinds of SIL placements. Although a caseworker will check in with you at least once every month, there is no foster parent or staff person who will be supervising you 24 hours a day. Depending on what sort of housing your SIL program offers, there may be some onsite staff.
In SIL, the cost of the place where you live is paid for by CPS and you are given some money to cover expenses like food and a phone. You have to handle day-to-day needs like preparing your meals, washing dishes, and doing your laundry. If you have a job while in SIL, you get to keep all the money. Since your housing expenses are covered, you can save this money for future big expenses such as housing expenses when you leave foster care or to buy a car. You will probably also find it is helpful to have some extra income to pay for clothes and other things you want because the amount of money you receive to cover your expenses is not a lot.
To be eligible for an SIL placement you must be between the ages 18-20, apply for an SIL placement with your caseworker, and show you are mature and responsible. You also must meet the extended foster care requirement that you work, attend school, participate in an employment program, or have a medical condition that prevents you from doing so.
You can read more about Supervised Independent Living on the DFPS website here.
You can see a list of all current SIL contracted providers in Texas here.
If your SIL program is leasing the apartment or property where you live, state law requires that they let you co-sign the lease so you can develop a rental history. This will make it easier for you to rent housing on your own when you leave foster care.
SIL is popular with young adults, even those who had problems in foster care, because participants have much more freedom. The program provides relief from difficulties young adults face when leaving the foster care system. Several colleges, including many of the Texas A&M campuses, have SIL programs that allow you to live in campus housing just like any other student, which is a great way to have free housing and free tuition with your tuition and fee waiver.