Support for youth & young adults experiencing homelessness:

  1. Drop-In Programs & Street-Based Youth Outreach Teams
  2. Emergency Shelter and Interim Housing
    1. Night-to-Night or Short-Term Stays
    2. May be provided via congregate, dorm-style or host homes
  3. Transitional Housing
    1. Longer-Term Housing (typically up to two years)
    2. Focus on life-skills education & intensive support
    3. Programs may focus on special populations
  4. Rapid Rehousing for Youth
    1. Rapidly moving youth into permanent housing
    2. Offering short- to medium-term financial assistance
    3. Providing developmentally appropriate case management and supports (focus on employment)
  5. Permanent Supportive Housing
    1. Permanent Housing
    2. Long-term rental assistance
    3. Individual or a member of a household has a disabling condition
  6. Permanent Housing
    1. May or may not come with financial assistance
    2. Youth may have continuing care built-in the program or be told how to access continuing care

Major State/Federal Funding Sources:

Illinois Department of Human Services: Homeless Youth Programs

  • FY23: $7.2m funding 27 programs
  • Outreach, Emergency/Interim Shelter, Transitional Housing

US Department of Health & Human Services: Runaway and Homeless Youth Act Funding

US Department of Housing and Urban Development: McKinney Vento Program

  • Approximately $2.8 billion distributed via the Continuum of Care (COC) competitive process
    • Includes $80m in Youth Homelessness Demonstration Project YHDP) renewals
    • YHDP: HUD identifies communities through a competitive process and supports them as they create and implement a coordinated community plan to reduce the number of youth and young adults experiencing homelessness. https://suburbancook.org/youth-homelessness/
  • Heavier focus on permanent housing models, less funding for services (though look at recent Special NOFO)
  • Local decisions impact which providers qualify for funding

More info:

IDHS: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=30772

HHS: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/fysb/runaway-homeless-youth

HUD: https://www.hudexchange.info/homelessness-assistance/resources-for-homeless-youth/

National Network for Youth: www.nn4youth.org

Youth Collaboratory: www.youthcollaboratory.org

SchoolHouse Connection: www.schoolhouseconnection.org

Runaway & Homeless Youth Training and Technical Assistance Center (RHYTTAC): www.rhyttac.net. (Resources Tab)

A Way Home America: www.awayhomeamerica.org

Point Source Youth: www.pointsourceyouth.org

National Runaway Safeline: www.1800runaway.org

Illinois Collaboration on Youth: www.ICOYouth.org

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless: www.chicagohomeless.org

Homeless Hub (Canada): https://www.homelesshub.ca/about-homelessness/population-specific/youth