The rising number of youth experiencing homelessness in the U.S. is a crisis, with approximately 4.2 million young adults facing housing insecurity. That means 1 in 10 youth between 18 and 24 is unhoused or at risk of becoming so. This lack of stable shelter can negatively impact the health, education, and economic well-being of young people.
The current federal definition of homelessness often overlooks the housing insecurity faced by many young adults. It primarily includes those living on the streets, in emergency shelters, or in transitional housing programs, but misses those who are “doubling up” (temporarily staying with friends or family), living in motels, or couch surfing—realities like mine. A more inclusive and trauma-informed approach is needed to address young people’s housing insecurity, especially in light of the Supreme Court’s ruling last week in Johnson v. Grant Pass, which allows cities to criminalize sleeping outdoors.
Recognizing those shortcomings and the escalating crisis of housing instability, in 2020 several states conducted focus group discussions with young adults, community-based organizers and funders to better understand the realities faced by homeless youth and where they should redirect their efforts.
In Oregon, participants voiced the need for a youth-centered approach to addressing homelessness. As one young person stated in focus groups on this subject, “what we need is cash,” stressing the pivotal role of autonomy and trust in accessing support services. A recurring theme in the discussions, in which I participated, was the burden placed on young people to constantly justify their need for assistance by recounting their traumatic experiences. This process not only compounds trauma but also perpetuates a harmful cycle where individuals must compete for limited resources by commodifying their traumatic experiences.
Instead, participants in Oregon advocated for a system where every young person in need could access support without additional trauma and in ways they felt comfortable doing. Youth pushed for cash to be given directly to them, instead of funding inefficient systems that require folks in need to consistently prove their worthiness to receive support.
These conversations led to the development of Direct Cash Transfer Plus (DCTP) pilot programs, a nationwide initiative that provides young adults ages 18 to 24 with no-strings-attached cash transfers over a 24-month period, with the aim of providing enough support to cover the cost of shared housing. While cash transfers form the core of the program, participants have the option to access additional services including housing navigation, case management and financial empowerment coaching provided by community-based organizations.
The programs have gained national attention, and they are operating in several localities, including Oregon, New York, San Francisco and Vermont. In Oregon, for example, some 120 young adults across three distinct communities have been benefiting from the DCTP program, and as of this March, 100 of those young people were no longer homeless, according to Point Source for Youth, a key partner on the project. After just six months of receiving direct cash transfers, 63% of youth found stable housing.
The benefits of cash transfers extend beyond housing. They allow young people to address their essential needs, from purchasing beds for their siblings to securing reliable transportation for employment. These programs have shown a positive impact on mental and physical health, with participants reporting reduced anxiety and enhanced overall well-being.
While some may question whether it’s appropriate for the government to give cash directly to young adults, this approach mirrors the realities in countless homes today. A recent study from the Pew Research Center found that nearly 60% of young adults receive financial support from their parents, which provides them with a crucial safety net for housing, food and other financial assistance. This is not the case for unaccompanied youth, or youth without parents.
Fatigue over homelessness in America is real and reasonable. No one thinks the status quo is sustainable. But punitive measures that criminalize young people for simply trying to survive is not the answer. What we need, instead, is to refocus our efforts on solving the actual crisis, through policies and programs that reduce the number of youth experiencing homelessness.
The way to do that? Put cash directly into the hands of young people, thus empowering them to overcome their own housing challenges and break cycles of despair.
