Youth (ages 12-17) and young adults (ages 18-24) who are currently experiencing homelessness, have unstable housing, or are concerned they might become homeless can find resources from local service providers listed. OHY does not provide any services directly.
- Washington 211: Visit the website or dial 211 to search for a range of community resources, including housing, food, education and other services throughout the state.
- Coordinated Entry site (Excel): Contact your local coordinated entry site, as this is often the first step required to access a housing program. Coordinated Entry is responsible for prioritizing individuals and households by level of need and connecting them with services that have openings. Some sites have youth and young adult specific providers listed.
- OHY Funded Service Provider List (Excel): The list of organizations with OHY funding or oversight is organized by county or search the resource map at the link. Contact a youth service provider directly for program-specific information on eligibility and how to access available services. This is not a comprehensive list of all resources like 211.
The OHY Resource Map (Google maps) shows the same organizations as those listed in the OHY Funded Service Provider List (Excel) with some additional descriptions of services provided and eligibility requirements. Search functions are different as you can zoom in to your location by entering your city, county, or zip code in the search bar.
Which program do I need?
OHY services are available for people in a variety of situations. You could qualify for help if you are couch surfing, doubling up, behind on bills or in other situations where your housing is unstable. Many organizations provide additional services and can help you navigate to the right program for your needs. Please reach out to a service provider in your area even if you are unsure if you qualify. They will likely need to ask some questions about your situation to understand how best to help.
These programs address immediate needs by providing crisis intervention and emergency supplies, assessments of individual needs, connection with relevant resources (e.g., shelter, housing, medical care, counseling, etc.) and ongoing case management.
- Street Outreach Services provide directly or through referrals for basic needs resources and services, including providing problem solving conversations or advocacy to help identify practical solutions to resolving housing crises. Services are provided through street or community-based outreach or in drop-in centers.
- Young Adult Shelters provide immediate, temporary emergency overnight shelter with assessment and service planning to young adults ages 18-24.
- Support Services programs may be funded through different grants, like the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program or Anchor Communities Initiative, but all provide crisis response services.
- Homelessness Prevention & Diversion Fund (HPDF) and Youth Diversion Infrastructure Program (YDIP), use creative, problem-solving conversations to generate housing solutions and includes flexible funding when needed.
These programs are focused on connecting with young people at-risk of experiencing homelessness to provide resources before there is a crisis. This includes young people whose current living situation is not safe or stable and those statistically at higher risk because they are exiting foster care, juvenile detention, inpatient behavioral health programs, or shelters.
- Homeless Student Stability Program (HSSP) provides services to students and their families experiencing homelessness.
- Systems of Care programs can look different, but all provide services for young people transitioning out of publicly funded systems of care, child welfare, behavioral health, juvenile justice, and OHY funded programs.
- Housing Stability for Youth in Courts (H-SYNC) serves youth within the juvenile court system to identify needs and refer them and their families to needed services.
- Homelessness Prevention & Diversion Fund (HPDF) and Youth Diversion Infrastructure Program (YDIP) (for young people who have been in foster care), use creative, problem-solving conversations to generate housing solutions and includes flexible funding when needed.
These programs provide temporary residence and services for youth ages 12-17. Programs must also be licensed by and complying with regulations set by the Department of Children, Youth, & Families.
- HOPE Centers serve youth for up to 90 days while assisting with obtaining safe and stable housing. Youth must voluntarily agree to stay in HOPE Centers. Extending stays may be requested when no housing solution can be found.
- Crisis Residential Centers (CRC) provide services for up for to 15 days to youth who have runaway, experienced family conflict, or whose health and safety may be at risk. CRC are co-located with HOPE Centers.
- Transitional Living Programs (TLP) provide long term residence and planning for the transition to adulthood for youth ages 16-17. State dependent youth are not eligible for TLPs.
- Secure Crisis Residential Centers provide services for no more than 5 days and are located within juvenile detention centers. Youth must be referred by law enforcement or a court order.
These supportive services most often are provided within another program serving homeless youth, like a shelter or drop-in center.
- Ancillary Therapeutic Services provide additional support accessing behavioral health services.
- Protected Healthcare Services support youth who are seeking or receiving gender-affirming and/or reproductive health care.
- Community Support Teams coordinate youth-led meetings focused on identifying and providing supports focused on resolving family conflict and barriers to safe and stable housing.
These programs provide assistance locating, obtaining, and maintaining long-term housing and financial support for rent and related housing costs such are first/last month rent, deposits, moving expenses, arrears (past due rent) and utilities for young adults ages 18 to 24.
Housing units vary and may include shared or individual units owned by the provider, apartments in the community leased directly to the young person or the provider, and renting from a friend or family.
- Young Adult Housing Program – must meet low-income requirements at entry.
- Independent Youth Housing Program (IYHP) – must have been a dependent of WA state or federally recognized tribe before age 18 and meet low-income requirements at entry.
- Rapid Rehousing is a Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) for young people who are currently or at imminent risk of becoming homeless.
- Anchor Communities Initiative (ACI) – some projects include rental and housing assistance.
If you are having a conflict with your landlord, you can also contact a local Dispute Resolution Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers below relate specifically to OHY-funded services, also see Washington | Homeless Youth Handbook for more statewide information and resources.
Every program has its own policies that must be provided up front and be easily accessible to young people in writing. The following minimum OHY program policies (PDF) regarding nondiscrimination, staff code of conduct, and participant rights include:
- Affirming care that supports the individual identity of all young people
- Culturally responsive services
- Privacy
- Clear and accessible process for addressing concerns
- Choice in participation in services
- Safety, respect and non-judgment
- Access to any gender-segregated spaces that is consistent with the individual’s gender expression or identity
Programs cannot require participation in religious services, payment for services, state-issued ID as the only allowable form of documentation, or immigration documentation (unless required for YHDP programs only).
See the Washington State Human Rights Commission online portal for filing a complaint if you believe you have been discriminated against.
Every program has its own requirements that should be explained to you clearly up front. Staff typically ask about your circumstances to better understand what help they might provide you. You have the right to share as much or little as you choose.
Information requirements tend to increase with the level of services needed. For example, you may receive outreach services and basic needs items without providing even a legal first name but may need to provide a copy of a lease or pay stubs to receive rental assistance.
If you are under age 18, overnight residential programs are required to contact your parent or legal guardian for their consent. See the next question, for more details.
If you are under age 18, overnight residential programs are required to contact your parent or legal guardian for their consent. If you are unable to contact them, it is not safe to because it may subject the youth to abuse or neglect, or youth is seeking gender-affirming or reproductive health care, then the program may instead contact the Department of Children, Youth & Families (RCW 13.32A.082).
In these circumstances, youth may be able to consent to their own stay in a program for up to 90 days. Also see Consent for Youth in Shelter – 2023 Legislative Changes for Licensed Shelters (PDF) for more information on current consent laws.
Data collection: Staff typically collect demographic data for the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). This is important to better understand how effective and equitable services are. Staff are required to get your consent first and you have the option to decline to answer questions. You will receive the same services, whether or not you allow your personal information to be entered into HMIS.
Abuse or neglect: Staff are “mandated reporters” and are obligated to report to the Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) any child abuse and neglect they witness or have disclosed to them. This applies to any youth under age 18, those receiving services or their children. Program staff should not investigate suspected abuse.
Missing persons: Homelessness service providers and shelters must check the Washington State Patrol public list of missing persons (includes anyone with a runaway report filed) within 8 hours of learning that a youth, under age 18, is away from home without permission and report their whereabouts to the parent, law enforcement, or DCYF (RCW 13.32A.082).
There are very few housing resources dedicated specifically to pregnant and parenting young people, but OHY programs still offer important assistance in connecting you with needed resources. OHY funding can be used to support both eligible young people and their children or dependents. There may be restrictions on having children in residential programs, particularly those licensed for youth under age 18. Also see Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program for more resources.
Programs must provide reasonable accommodations to ensure low barrier, accessible services and may not discriminate against anyone because of a sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal. See Disability Rights Washington for more information.
Also check if you qualify for resources through the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) Services for Children and Youth (DSHS) or supportive housing and employment through Foundational Community Supports (Wellpoint).
Some programs have specialized services, can prioritize serving people fleeing domestic violence or human trafficking, and provide additional security in keeping your information confidential.
Domestic violence includes physical, verbal, and emotional harm, fear of physical harm, nonconsensual sexual conduct, coercive behavior, unlawful harassment, or stalking, for family or household members (RCW 7.105.010). It is not limited to any single gender, type of relationship, or type of violence.
If you think you may be experiencing domestic violence, contact the 24-hour national domestic violence hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or find service providers at Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WSCADV).
Human trafficking is the use of force, fraud or coercion to compel someone into any form of work against their will. Forced or exploitative labor can happen in any business industry or in domestic workplaces, like construction, restaurants, housekeeping, child or elder care. Sex work includes exchanging sexual acts for anything of value, including money, food, shelter, or drugs. Under federal law, anyone under age 18 engaging in sex work is experiencing sex trafficking.
If you think you may be experiencing human trafficking, contact the 24-hour national human trafficking resource center hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or find service providers at Washington Anti-Trafficking Response Network.
OHY programs, such as the Independent Youth Housing Program, Systems of Care and Youth Diversion Infrastructure Program, specifically focus on serving youth who experienced foster care. Some programs require that you are or were a Washington state dependent, which is not the case for every youth placed in foster care. Staff can help you verify this if you are unsure, so please reach out for assistance.
See Foster Youth Services from the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) for more resources.
YHDP is the only OHY program with immigration status requirements because it is federally funded. Immigration status is not a factor in determining if you are eligible for any other OHY program and staff are not allowed to request documentation from you in order to receive services.
OHY programs must offer to provide interpretation for young people with limited English proficiency.
Also see Federal Foster Care Overview (PDF) for more information on service eligibility for young people who have been in the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) programs.
OHY funding can be used throughout the state of Washington. Individual programs may have their own restrictions on service areas but are encouraged to consult with OHY for assistance coordinating between programs. OHY grants allow for many supports such as cost of travel to reunite with family or other stable housing arrangements (including moving out of state), deposits and other move-in costs, and moving expenses like truck rentals and temporary storage. Contact providers in your current and intended future locations for more information on available services.
Unfortunately, there are not always options available when young people need help, and you may be placed on a waiting list for stable housing. Crisis response and support services are provided while working towards obtaining housing and may be able to provide options for short term shelter, basic needs, and connections to other relevant resources. Try to connect with a case manager or other staff at a local program for help. They will be most able to spend the time needed to assess your situation and locate available resources.
Contact your local Coordinated Entry site (Excel) for assistance connecting with resources for adults experiencing homelessness or housing instability.