OHY administers over $37 million in grants annually, at the direction of the Legislature, in support of its mission to prevent and reduce youth homelessness. Grants support both well-established programs and innovative new strategies, all of which strive to be responsive to the changing needs of individual communities and young people. OHY relies on partnerships with local providers receiving these funds to ensure a range of quality services are accessible to young people throughout the state. Learn more information on eligible services and frequently asked questions about applying for funding.
Eligible services
Crisis Response
Street outreach, day shelters, emergency overnight shelters, and other community-based services 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.
Young adult housing (ages 18-24)
Provides housing navigation, rental assistance, transitional housing, and case management to help individuals move towards independence and self-sufficiency. Young adult housing grants include long-term residential programs, Rapid Rehousing, Homelessness Prevention, and Transitional Housing projects through several OHY grants.
Residential youth programs (ages 12-17)
HOPE Centers, Crisis Residential Centers, and Transitional Living Programs are licensed by DCYF and provide temporary residence, basic needs and services such as assessment, referrals, family reconciliation, and behavioral health support while assisting youth in obtaining safe and stable housing.
Support services (ages 12-17)
Provides resources dedicated to offering additional services within existing youth programs that focus on specific needs or populations identified as being at higher risk of experiencing housing instability or homelessness, including youth with behavioral health needs, youth receiving or seeking protected health care services, and youth without permanent housing solutions.
Systems of Care
Focuses on coordinating services provided in systems of care and connecting youth needed resources early on and to prevent them from experiencing homelessness. Systems of care are defined as the child welfare system, inpatient behavioral health system, juvenile justice system and homelessness programs administered by OHY.
School partnership
The Homeless Student Stability Program (HSSP) supports students and their families in improving education outcomes by promoting housing stability, encouraging collaborative strategies between housing and education partners, and addressing racial inequities.
Service coordination
Some grants are part of larger initiatives that focus on developing and implementing coordinated, data-informed approaches to preventing and ending youth and young adult homelessness that collaborates with system partners and is led by local communities to meet their unique needs.
Youth Homelessness Prevention
OHY leads youth homelessness prevention efforts by collaborating with partners to coordinate systems and services as a central component to ensuring safe and stable housing.
Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP)
OHY leads the collaboration of YHDP providers in the Balance of State, 34 Washington counties (excluding King, Clark, Pierce, Snohomish, and Spokane), and subcontracts for services like the Youth Lead Project. YHDP is a federally funded grant through the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD).
Functional Zero
Community Solution’s Built for Zero is a model developed to measure when homelessness has been solved for a population. Anchor Communities Initiative and Homelessness Prevention & Diversion Fund (HPDF) grants are currently available to support efforts to achieve functional zero in Clallam, Clark, Jefferson, Skagit, Thurston, Whatcom, Pierce, Spokane, Walla Walla and Yakima counties.
Resources
OHY grant funding is usually determined through a competitive procurement process, often referred to as a request for proposals (RFP), qualifications and quotation (RFQQ), applications (RFA) or similar acronym. Complete application instructions and materials are provided online with the public notification.
Who can apply for funding?
OHY grants are typically open to the following types of agencies that are licensed to do business in Washington:
- Local governments
- Local housing authorities
- Nonprofit community or neighborhood-based organizations
- Federally recognized Indian tribes in the state of Washington
- Regional or statewide nonprofit housing assistance organizations
Where are public notifications of OHY grant opportunities?
- Subscribe with the link on this page for OHY announcements via email
- Visit Contracting with Commerce for open funding opportunities
- Visit WEBS (Washington Electronic Business Solutions) for open state funded solicitations
When are grant applications and funding available?
Public notification of funding opportunities, including complete application instructions and materials, are usually issued in April or May.
- The Legislature must finalize the state budget before a funding opportunity can open.
- The legislative session typically ends in late April in odd-numbered years after approving the biennial budget, and in mid-March in even-numbered years approving the supplemental budget.
- Notification timing varies depending on factors such as how much advance notice of potential legislation is known, how much program design is needed for new projects, how many other procurement processes are occurring, and other such questions.
What are the grant periods?
Most grant periods are issued for two years in alignment with the state biennium, July 1 through June 30 of odd-numbered years. Grant might begin after the state supplemental budget is approved for one year, beginning in an even-numbered year.
Grants may, at Commerce’s discretion, be renewed without requiring a new competitive application for no more than six years total. Funding opportunities open when existing program grants cannot be renewed. New funding opportunities might be created if legislation is passed directing OHY to implement new services or projects.