Oregon Expands Cash Assistance Pilot to Prevent Youth Homelessness, Focuses on Former Foster Youth

SALEM, Ore. — April 30, 2026 — A statewide effort to prevent youth homelessness in Oregon is expanding, with new funding and partnerships aimed at helping young adults with foster care experience stay housed before crises escalate.

The initiative, led by Point Source Youth in partnership with the Oregon Department of Human Services, builds on a successful pilot program that provided one-time cash assistance to young people at risk of losing housing. The expanded program will now prioritize youth ages 18 to 23 who have transitioned out of foster care and are stepping into independence.

New research from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that direct cash payments can play a critical role in preventing homelessness. In a seven-state study of 345 participants, 92% did not enter the homelessness system within six months of receiving financial support.

Oregon first launched the pilot in 2024 in Lane County in collaboration with Connected Lane County. During that phase, 56 young people received needs-based payments averaging $3,700, often delivered within 48 hours, along with optional supportive services such as financial coaching and housing navigation. Officials reported that 82% of participants surveyed were in stable housing after the first month.

The program operates under the Targeted Housing Assistance Program (THAP), which provides flexible, one-time financial aid to youth facing imminent housing instability. It complements a separate initiative offering longer-term support for those already experiencing homelessness.

With the expansion, the program will partner with Jackson Street Youth Services to reach more communities across Oregon. At least 60 young people are expected to receive assistance in this phase, which began identifying eligible participants and distributing funds in March 2026. Researchers will track outcomes over a six-month period.

Larry Cohen, co-founder and executive director of Point Source Youth, said the program addresses a critical gap in traditional homelessness response systems.

“Youth homelessness starts with a crisis and then becomes long-term trauma because help arrives too late, if at all,” Cohen said. “This approach allows us to intervene early and keep young people securely housed.”

State officials echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the importance of prevention.

“Our Targeted Housing Assistance Program fills a critical gap in supporting young adults transitioning to independence,” said Matthew Rasmussen, manager of the Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program within ODHS. “It allows us to provide stability before young people are forced into the homelessness system.”

Kendra Phillips, executive director of Jackson Street Youth Services, called the expansion a “transformative step” in addressing youth homelessness.

“This model allows us to respond quickly and effectively to young people at risk, providing flexible support to help them stay housed and build stability,” Phillips said.

Unlike traditional housing programs, THAP provides direct financial assistance before individuals become homeless, targeting those facing eviction, unsafe living situations, or sudden loss of housing.

The Oregon expansion is part of a broader national effort. Point Source Youth is scaling similar programs in multiple states, including California, Michigan and New York, while launching new sites in Hawai‘i, Maine, Maryland, North Carolina and Oklahoma. Altogether, the initiative is expected to distribute $3 million in direct cash assistance to approximately 1,000 young people nationwide.

Program leaders say the model is designed to reduce barriers and preserve autonomy by allowing participants to decide how best to use the funds, while offering optional support services through community-based organizations.

Officials say the early results suggest that timely, targeted financial support could be a key strategy in reducing youth homelessness across Oregon and beyond.