TARGETED HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Direct Cash Oregon

Direct Cash to Prevent Youth Homelessness

📍 Oregon

What is Direct Cash Oregon?

Oregon’s Targeted Housing Assistance Program is a scalable, youth-driven approach to preventing youth homelessness statewide by pairing immediate direct cash assistance with comprehensive supportive services. It serves Oregon young adults ages 18–23 who are currently or formerly in foster care and experiencing a housing crisis, in partnership with the state’s child welfare department, with a specific focus on interrupting the foster care-to-homelessness pipeline.

Direct Cash Oregon: By The Numbers

All youth have been in the foster care system. They are either in foster care now, or they were in foster care when they were 14 or older and spent at least 180 days in out-of-home care after turning 13.

60

youth ages 18-23 with current or former foster care experience participating in the program

$2.5K

average amount of $2,500 offered in a one-time payment

THE LATEST

2nd Round of Direct cash Prevention Set To Launch

To help prevent homelessness among young people with foster care experience, our partner the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) has launched a second round of direct cash prevention support. This round is more targeted: only youth with foster care experience who are at imminent risk of losing housing will be eligible. Funding and implementation are led by ODHS’s Youth Experiencing Homelessness and Child Welfare programs, with Jackson Street Youth Services (JSYS) serving as the lead service provider.

This second cohort builds on the success of Oregon’s first THAP (Targeted Housing Assistance Program) cohort, led by Lane County alongside seven other original communities. In the 1-month follow-up evaluation, 82% of participants remained stably housed one month later (36 of 44 youth). Based on these results, the State of Oregon funded a second cohort with a sharper focus on foster care–experienced young people at highest risk.

As of March 2026, we have begun identifying eligible youth and distributing funds. At least 60 youth will receive cash support. We will also partner with researchers to track outcomes and learn from participants’ experiences over a six-month period.