OHY funds housing and rental assistance programs for young adults that provide holistic services to find and keep safe and stable housing solutions that best meet their needs. Programs may pay rent and other costs related to housing, including initial deposits, back-owed rent, basic furniture or household supplies, and other needed expenses.
Ongoing support includes participant-led goal planning, referrals to relevant resources, education on renter rights and responsibilities, and collaboration with property owners when needed. OHY encourages continued services until participants are self-sufficient and have established the solid foundation needed to avoid future housing instability.
Eligibility
- Age 18-24 or emancipated minor
- At risk of or currently experiencing homelessness, including young people who are couch surfing, doubled up, housed but struggling to cover expenses, in unsafe living conditions, and other situations.
- Income may not exceed “low” income limit (80% HUD Area Median Income) at initial enrollment. Young adults may continue receiving services while earning more if they participate in an individualized savings plan.
These are the only eligibility requirements from OHY. Programs may use additional criteria to prioritize assistance within their available funding. There is no restriction on serving eligible young adults with dependents or in households, but it does impact the amount of assistance provided. There is no restriction on receiving Extended Foster Care stipends while receiving OHY rental assistance.
*Independent Youth Housing Program (IYHP) has different eligibility criteria.
IYHP provides the same services as other OHY housing and rental assistance programs but is specifically for young adults who have been state dependent. See IYHP OHY Program Guidelines (PDF) and RCW 43.63A for more information. IYHP has the following eligibility criteria:
- Age 18-24
- Was a dependent of Washington State under RCW 13.34 or in the custody of a federally recognized Indian tribe at any time prior to age 18
- Income must not exceed the “very low” limit (50% HUD Area Median Income) at initial enrollment. Young adults may continue receiving services while earning more if they participate in an individualized savings plan.
There is no restriction on Extended Foster Care; young adults can receive both OHY housing assistance and Extended Foster Care stipends.
IYHP does not allow for housing assistance with biological parents or former foster parents
Services
Organizations use funding towards a variety of different program types. They have flexibility in designing how best meet the unique needs of their local community with the resources available. Programs may use OHY funds to support one or more of the following models. All programs include case management.
For details on a specific organization’s services, contact the provider found on OHY Resources for Youth and Young Adults (Excel).
Rental assistance
Young adults live in apartments, rooms in friends or family member’s homes, or other community-based units. Young people hold the lease and can remain in their home after they exit the program. This model often provides more choice on unit type and location but can be limiting depending on the availability of affordable rental options in the area. Rental assistance must be paid directly to the property owner.
- Currently homelessness young adults are served through “rapid rehousing” programs. Providers assist in locating and applying for housing options. Financial assistance is typically used for deposits and other move-in fees as well as monthly rent to support in maintaining stable housing.
- Unstably housed young adults, such as those at risk of eviction or needing to move away from safety concerns, are served through “homelessness prevention” programs. This may include paying overdue rent (“arrears”) or housing related fees, assisting with moving to a safer location, or providing monthly rental assistance.
Housing programs
Programs may have housing available in properties that they lease or own. These models allow for more reliably available units and often have more structure and staff support than living independently in the community. Stays are typically tied to program enrollment and require support transitioning into permanent housing.
- Agency properties provide apartments in a centralized building or rooms within shared house. These programs often have case management or other supports onsite or are intentionally located in easily accessible areas.
- Subleased apartments are units that the service provider leases in the community. This may be “transitional housing” where the young person must move when they exit the program or “transition-in-place” model where the provider transfers the lease to the young person prior to exit. This model can also benefit property owners as a source of reliable rent, renter turnover management, and support addressing issues with complaints or damages all while helping young people maintain safe and stable housing.
- Host homes are an alternative model that provides housing in volunteer hosts’ private homes. Host home programs recruit and screen potential host homes, provide on-going case management to the youth, and support both the youth and host home in transitioning to safe and stable housing.
Regardless of funding sources, all host homes serving youth under age 18 must follow requirements outlined in RCW 74.15.020. This includes registering with the Secretary of State and submitting the Host Homes Annual Report form (Smartsheet) to OHY.
OHY Grants
- Young Adult Housing Program funds rental assistance and housing programs for any eligible young person, see YAHP OHY Program Guidelines (PDF).
- Independent Youth Housing Program provides rental assistance and housing specifically for young adults who have been a dependent of Washington State prior to age 18, see IYHP OHY Program Guidelines (PDF).
- Functional Zero funds community-based coordinated services that can include rental assistance and housing, see Communities for Functional Zero and Functional Zero OHY Program Guidelines (PDF).
Other related grants
- Systems of Care focuses on youth exiting child welfare, juvenile justice, behavioral health, and OHY programs. Services may include directly providing housing or rental assistance, see SOC OHY Program Guidelines (PDF).
- Transitional Living Programs fund long-term housing to youth ages 16-17. See Youth Residential Programs and TLP OHY Program Guidelines (PDF) for more information.
- Homeless Student Stability Program (HSSP) is primarily intended to provide shorter term support to students experiencing homelessness but may also allow directly providing housing or rental assistance. See Youth Supportive Services or HSSP OHY Program Guidelines (PDF) for more information.
- Young Adult Shelters fund emergency overnight shelter and do not include permanent housing support. See Youth Crisis Response and YAS OHY Program Guidelines (PDF) for more information.
- Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) are federally funded grants that include Rapid Rehousing and Transitional Housing projects for young adults. OHY leads YHDP in the Washington’s Balance of State Continuum of Care, Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP).