On September 3, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced it will award $75 million in Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) grants to 23 local communities to support innovative programs aimed at ending youth homelessness. The $75 million in YHDP grant funding for FY 2019 represents a $32 million increase above the FY 2018 level.
Funding will support a wide range of housing programs for youth under the age of 25 who are experiencing homelessness. Programs will center around rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, transitional housing and host homes. YHDP will also support youth-focused performance measurement and coordinated entry systems to quickly connect youth with other services and systems of care.
Communities selected for these grants will coordinate across local youth action boards, child welfare agencies and other community partners to create a comprehensive community plan to end youth homelessness. Four counties were among the grant recipients, including Palm Beach County, Fla., Prince George’s County, Md., Clackamas County Health, Housing & Human Services, Ore., and Allegheny County, Pa. A full list of grant recipients can be found at this link. More information on YHDP can be found here.
NACo supports federal efforts to prevent homelessness and increases in federal funding for key housing programs and tools that help counties provide affordable housing opportunities for low-income residents.
For NACo resources on housing and homelessness, please see the following links:
- NACo presentation: Affordable Housing Toolkit for Counties
- NACo report: Building Homes: County Funding for Affordable Housing
- NACo blog: HUD awards grant funding to support local homelessness assistance programs
