The Targeted Housing Assistance Program Handbook by Point Source Youth outlines a model for preventing youth homelessness through Direct Cash Transfers (DCT). This resource provides a framework for transitioning from the initial concept of financial assistance to full program implementation and evaluation.
The handbook identifies three core pillars of the intervention:
-
Direct Financial Assistance: One-time stabilization payments to prevent immediate housing crises.
-
Creative Housing Conversations: Collaborative problem-solving to identify safe housing options.
-
Youth-Driven Support: Voluntary services centered on the young person’s self-identified needs.
Formerly referred to as Direct Cash Transfers as Prevention (DCT-P), this model has been piloted in seven communities. The guide serves as a technical manual for practitioners looking to disrupt entry into the shelter system through rapid, flexible funding.
