Voices about foster care: The value of trust

•The voices of youth with foster care histories, caregivers, and staff are vital for understanding the issue of homelessness.•Reliable support structures help youth who have been in foster care recognize their inner strength.•Youth who have been in foster care want independence and autonomy and to have their basic needs met.•Trust building is the first step towards supporting the needs of youth with foster care histories. Youth with foster care histories have often experienced social, emotional, health and mental health challenges. Furthermore, research has revealed risk factors attributed to this trend, along with select protective factors for reducing instances of youth who have been in foster care becoming homeless. To expand upon existing knowledge of the issue, this qualitative study utilized the experiential voices of current and former youth in foster care, caregivers, and agency staff to broaden the understanding of the needs of youth with foster care histories, as well as provide a contextual lens for exploring potential risk factors leading to homelessness. A series of focus groups were held and the data was analyzed using multiple coding cycles. The following themes inspired by participants’ voices emerged from the focus groups: (1) independence and autonomy; (2) importance of support; (3) basic needs; and (4) recognizing strengths. While each theme emerged, the concept of trust was found to be the essential issue interwoven throughout.