Providing direct cash transfers is a means of preventing homelessness both for adults and youth.
Watch: This explainer video by Point Source Youth shares the experiences of youth who received direct cash transfers in New York City.
Direct cash transfers for youth typically involve an initial one-time start-up grant of $2,000 to $4,500 without preconditions and/or an ongoing monthly cash payment, the amount based on the cost of living in that community. Alongside the unconditional cash payments are a range of services provided by a local community-based organization that might include housing navigation, financial counselling and peer support.
Because of their unique needs and experiences, young people are given the option to choose their payment plans and supports. This gives them the opportunity to make their own decisions and receive services tailored to their individual needs and experiences.
Related resources
- Report
Homelessness Prevention and Diversion Fund: Using Flexible Funds to House Youth and Young Adults Equitably and Sustainably
Pairing youth and young adult-centered housing diversion support with immediate, flexible funding has made housing solutions an enduring reality for hundreds of Washington young people facing homelessness, all for a...
Why Eviction Prevention Matters
Did you know that for every dollar invested in BC Rent Bank, there is a return of $5 in savings for renters and the government? This research has found that...
- Report
Direct Cash Transfers Handbook
Direct cash transfers (DCTs) are a growing global intervention aiming to meet the needs of young people remotely, digitally, and efficiently. The way a youth DCT program works is simple:...