‘YEHP’ program combines cash and support to help young adults battle homelessness

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)-- A new study finds that a pilot program combining direct cash payments with wraparound support is helping Oregon youth experiencing homelessness get and keep stable housing. The Direct Cash Transfer Plus (DCT+) program provides cash assistance alongside housing navigation, financial education, and other services, and was found to significantly boost both housing stability and independence for young adults.

DCT+ is run through a partnership between Point Source Youth and the Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (YEHP) at the Oregon Department of Human Services, with services delivered by three community partners: the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA), Antfarm, and JBarJ Youth Services. In a study by Young People to the Front, 63 of the first 120 participants completed surveys over two years; 94 percent of them self-reported being housed at the end of the program.

“We are very encouraged by the early results showing that Direct Cash Transfers help youth move beyond survival mode and toward building more stable, independent lives,” said YEHP Program Manager Matthew Rasmussen, adding that the approach helps build emotional stability, financial skills, and rental history, and reduces the likelihood of chronic adult homelessness. The cash support can be used for rent, deposits, furniture, and transportation, helping youth overcome barriers like lack of credit history and insufficient income.

Larry Cohen, co-founder and executive director at Point Source Youth, said Oregon’s outcomes match earlier results in New York: when the real cost of shared housing is covered for two years and paired with support, “young people stay housed.” He said flexible cash gives youth the time and “breathing room” needed to build long-term stability.

Other findings from the first two years of the pilot include: 72 percent of participants were working or enrolled in school; the share of youth with a high school diploma rose by 8.1 percent; and participation in financial literacy workshops increased by 23 percent. Program leaders say the combined supports give young people a real chance to change the trajectory of their lives.

“DCT helped me move from survival mode into a place where I could heal, grow, and plan for a sustainable future,” said participant Gabrielle Huffman of Bend. She said that one year after finishing the program she is in her own home, halfway through a business degree, focused on creating stability for herself and her daughter, and working toward becoming a nonprofit leader in her community.

The pilot first operated in Multnomah, Clackamas, and Deschutes counties and has since expanded to Jackson County for a second group of 120 participants. Youth must be 18 to 24 when they apply and can receive up to two years of support. The second cohort has already been selected, and the pilot is not currently accepting new applications.

Participants work with a case manager to set self-directed goals around long-term housing stability and overall well-being, while the cash assistance helps meet ongoing needs as they work toward permanent housing. Initial funding for the pilot came through an agreement between ODHS and Oregon Housing and Community Services, with the second cohort supported by a $1 million philanthropic gift and additional funds from Senate Bill 5526.

Direct Cash Transfer Plus is one of several services offered through YEHP, which serves youth ages 14–24 experiencing homelessness via a network of community partners. Those partnerships connect youth with essential services such as showers, laundry, academic and employment support, as well as temporary shelter and housing opportunities.

YEHP’s tuition and fee waiver assistance is also showing impact: from fall 2023 to now, the program has approved 267 tuition and fee waivers for eligible youth experiencing homelessness through agreements with Oregon’s public universities and community colleges, which waive costs for qualifying students. YEHP continues to expand prevention and housing-stability efforts with the goal of keeping youth from entering homelessness in the first place and helping those who do to secure and maintain stable housing into adulthood.