DIRECT CASH
TRANSFERS

Placing power and resources directly in the hands of young people

#TrustYouth

The Trust Youth Initiative, a joint effort from Point Source Youth, the Ali Forney Center, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago and UpTogether, is the first study of the effectiveness of direct cash transfers (DCT) with optional supportive services for youth experiencing homelessness. The participants in the New York City-based project (ages 18–24) receive $1,150 on a monthly basis for up to 2 years. With the support of the Economic Security Project, we have undertaken a video storytelling project to showcase the initial experiences of young adults who received the first round of direct cash transfers in New York City.  Watch and share our video on the impact and growing body of evidence that shows that DCT can support youth and improve outcomes for people experiencing homelessness.

Spread the Word

We know that cash is a powerful tool in ending youth homelessness and we’re eager to share what we’ve learned from our Direct Cash Transfers pilot in New York City. Help us build and strengthen the movement to #TrustYouth by sharing our new animated video with your community using your digital platforms!

What are Direct Cash Transfers?

Direct Cash Transfers (DCT) are a growing global intervention proven to meet the needs of young people remotely, digitally, and efficiently. The way DCT programs for youth work is simple: program staff distributes cash to youth either remotely or safely in person at a frequency (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly) that works best for them.

Service providers are able to exercise flexibility in administering DCT programs, which allows for increased bandwidth for higher-touch interventions on the part of program staff, and greater agency for young people. Programs can offer optional support programs with a peer navigator including higher education and career counseling in addition to traditional case management.

Cash transfer programs are more likely to be cost-effective than traditional interventions to youth homelessness while also equipping young people with the resources they need to make the best decisions they’ve determined for their own lives.

DCT programs require 3 commitments:

1.

championing housing stability and youth empowerment.

The goal of a DCT program should be to empower youth to sustainably exit homelessness. Young people who participate in DCT programs should be given the support they ask for unconditionally to thrive according to their terms.

2.

Adopting a flexible & simple approach.

Every young person has a different experience that creates diverse needs and preferences. By granting young people the choice of payment delivery and optional support, programs allow youth a unique opportunity to succeed through making their own decisions. Both staff and youth benefit from the efficiency created by simple DCT program design.

3.

Centralization on youth choice, equity, and trust.

The needs and preferences of young people need to be at the center of a DCT program for it to succeed. Along with Chapin Hall, we found that the needs of LGBTQ youth and youth of color who face discrimination and exclusion through existing systems need to be specifically elevated.

Where We’re Working

Learn more about our current partner sites implementing Direct Cash Transfers for youth.

  • Moving into the 2nd year of the Trust Youth Initiative (TYI) pilot, PSY will continue to collaborate with Ali Forney Center (CBO) and Chapin Hall researchers to support positive housing outcomes for 29 TYI pilot participants (most of whom were actively unhoused at the outset of the study). This site has an intentional focus on supporting BIPOC youth and young people who are LGBTQIA+ identified.

  • PSY will be launching an RFP to identify a CBO partner to distribute direct cash transfer payments to 45 youth in Baltimore. PSY is also working closely with community partners to identify six youth to co-create program design and local implementation of DCTs. Recipients will receive DCT payments and optional case management for two years. The goal is to start distributing funds in April of 2024.

  • The State of Oregon has partnered with PSY and 3 amazing CBOs to serve 120 young people with 5 months of Direct Cash Transfers; Ant Farm (serving 10 youth), J Bar J (serving 35 youth), and Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) (serving 75 youth). All three organizations, PSY staff, and Youth Consultants worked hard to ensure youth began receiving $1,000 monthly payments in February 2023 (currently slated to distribute funds through June 2023). Participants will also be able to access a one-time payment of $3,000 at any point during enrollment.

  • PSY is working alongside Larkin Street Youth Services as the lead CBO in San Francisco. This project is intended to serve 45 young people with direct cash transfers for two years (starting June 2023) in hopes of preventing young people from entering the Homelessness Response System (HRS). Larkin Street is actively recruiting good candidates to fill their open DCT Staff positions.

  • Covenant House California (CHC) is our lead CBO in Oakland, California and is working on filling both a peer engagement position and a pathways engagement specialist role. CHC will serve 45 youth, including pregnant and parenting youth, with DCT payments and supportive programming for two years. We are aiming to start distributions in June 2023.

  • PSY is collaborating with Spectrum Youth & Family Services (a CBO providing services to young people in Burlington and St. Albans) as they prepare to pilot DCTs with 10 youth for 18 months. If the first cohort is successful, this is slated to be a multi-year project with 10 new youth added to the pilot each year. This project aims to begin distributing cash in the Fall of 2023.