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Pilot Projects to End Youth Homelessness

We work with a network of partners to end youth homelessness

The Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (YEHP) collaborates with partners on pilot projects. These projects allow us to test different ways to help youth. Our goal is to make successful projects into permanent programs.

Youth homelessness servicesAdvisory committeeOur partnersResources for partnersSeptember 2025 report


Pilot projects

Pilot projects are listed in the order of the year they were launched.

Targeted Housing Assistance Program (THAP)

The Targeted Housing Assistance Program (THAP) Foster Youth Pilot launched in April 2026. The pilot, which includes partnerships with Point Source Youth and Jackson Street Youth Services. It helps young people who have experienced foster care in the child welfare system and are stepping into independence. It provides one-time cash assistance to help them get stable housing.

The program serves young adults aged 18 to 23 who:

  • Are in foster care. Or, were formerly in care, and meet the requirements.
  • Are experiencing a crisis threatening their housing. And are at risk of homelessness.

THAP expects to serve 60 young adults across Oregon in 2026.

FYI Housing Navigation Program

YEHP works in partnership with ODHS’ Child Welfare to help young people who use a federal rental assistance program.

Young adults who have experience with the Child Welfare System may qualify for a Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) rental assistance voucher. Young people who use the vouchers often need other support. The navigation pilot program provides additional support to complement the FYI program.

Services can include:

  • Guidance through the housing application and leasing process
  • Assistance with common barriers to getting housing
  • Finding housing opportunities.

YEHP launched the program in March 2026 through three partners:

  • Youth ERA in Columbia County
  • Maslow Project in Jackson County
  • Northwest Family Services in Clackamas County.

Support services offered through this pilot will be provided through February 2027.

Learn more about the FYI Housing Navigation Program (Informarse sobre FYI en español​​)

Direct Cash Transfer as Prevention

YEHP, Point Source Youth and Connected Lane County in 2024 partnered in providing needs-based cash payments and other supports to young people. The pilot led to the expanded Targeted Housing Assistance Program (THAP) Foster Youth Pilot that launched in 2026. In this initial phase, Oregon enrolled 56 young people in Lane County, who were at imminent risk of homelessness. They also received financial and youth​-driven supportive programming. Payments averaged $3,700 and were typically dispersed within 48 hours. This pilot project showed promising results with 82 percent of participants surveyed reporting that they were in stable housing after the first month.

Direct Cash Transfer Plus (DCT+)

Oregon has become the first state to implement a statewide Direct Cash Transfers Plus (DCT+) model. It serves youth in rural, suburban and metro areas. It also has culturally specific programs.

The first pilot of this program launched in March 2023. It provided direct cash support to 120 youth experiencing homelessness or who lack stable housing. This cash was not counted as income. This meant the support did not affect other benefits youth receive.

With the success of the first Pilot 1.0, YEHP launched DCT+ 2.0. This phase runs through 2027. All participants in DCT+ 2.0 have been selected. No new participants are being added.

DCT+ Partners:

To learn more about DCT+:

Affordable Rents for College Students (ARCS)

The Affordable Rents for College Students (ARCS) program, which provides rental assistance, transitioned to College Housing Northwest (CHNW) in 2025.

It was started as a YEHP pi​lot project in 2020 as a partnership with CHNW, public colleges, and community-based organizations.

The expanded program provides:

  • Utility subsidies
  • Access to household, hygiene, and food supplies
  • Individualized case management and supportive services.


Contact

Matthew Rasmussen, Program Manager

Phone: 503-602-1087

Email: matthew.rasmussen@odhs.oregon.gov