The Office of Homeless Youth Prevention and Protection Programs (OHY) leads statewide efforts to reduce and prevent homelessness for unaccompanied youth and young adults, ages 12-24. OHY’s guiding vision is for each community to have services that are equitable, accessible, and effective and that every family and youth has the individualized support they need so that no young person has to spend a single night without a safe and stable home.
Youth of color, those who identify as LGBTQ2+, and those with disabilities experience homelessness and housing instability at higher rates than their peers. OHY strives to achieve equity for these youth and places youth at the center of funding, practice, and policy decisions.
Advocacy efforts led by young people helped passed the Homeless Youth Act in 2015 to create OHY and establish its five priority service areas:
- Stable Housing: every youth has a safe and healthy place to sleep
- Family Reconciliation: when safe and appropriate
- Permanent Connections: opportunities to establish positive, healthy relationships
- Education and Employment: opportunities to advance training and skills
- Social and Emotional Well-Being: access to behavioral and physical health care, individual strengths are nurtured
OHY Program Grants
OHY funds local organizations providing a range of services for youth and young adults experiencing housing instability. See program descriptions, requirements, and frequently asked questions about how to apply for grants.
OHY Resources for Youth and Young Adults
Find contact information for programs serving young people in your area on the OHY Service Provider List (Excel) and OHY Resource Map (Google maps), information on how to connect with needed services and common questions youth have about services.
OHY Strategic Initiatives
OHY collaborates with young people, service providers, state agencies, legislators, advocates and other community partners to enact system level change. See more information on legislative policy, research and coordinated service approaches like Prevention, Functional Zero, and YHDP.
OHY Technical Assistance
Organizations receiving OHY grants can find current program guidelines, forms, resources, and training opportunities for staff serving youth and young adults.