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 tailored 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 Launches

To help prevent homelessness among young people with foster care experience, the Oregon Department of Human Services's Youth Experiencing Homelessness and Child Welfare programs have launched a second round of direct cash prevention support, with Jackson Street Youth Services serving as the lead provider.

This round builds on Oregon’s first Targeted Housing Assistance Program cohort, where 82% of participants remained stably housed one month later. Based on those results, the State of Oregon is expanding the model with a sharper focus on foster care-experienced young people at imminent risk of losing housing.

As of August 2026, Jackson Street Youth Services has begun identifying eligible young people and distributing funds. At least 60 young people will receive cash support, with outcomes tracked over six months.