DIRECT CASH
TRANSFERS

Placing power and resources directly in the hands of young people

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) is a housing intervention meant to assist youth experiencing homelessness by resourcing them directly to re-house themselves. The program has three components.

1.Cash

PSY partners with a payment processor to provide the payments. The monthly payments are tied to an amount sufficient to support a shared housing outcome, and provided at a frequency and through a method guided by youth choice.

2. Services

PSY partners with a local community-based organization (CBO) to provide the services. The CBO has flexibility to provide the youth-directed services in a manner that is highly responsive to the needs and agency of the young people. Programs offer a variety of service options, with the highest engagement seen in housing navigation, financial coaching, and peer support.

3. Research + Storytelling


PSY partners with young people in a community as well as other research partners to drive data and research outcomes. We use our research and storytelling to cultivate policy change, narrative change, and continued funding.

Current Projects

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

  • PSY is working with the Ali Forney Center and Chapin Hall to support positive housing outcomes for 29 young people.

  • PSY is partnered with the State of Oregon and three CBOs (Ant Farm, J Bar J, & Native American Youth and Family Center) to serve 120 young people across the state.

  • PSY is working alongside Larkin Street Youth Services and Chapin Hall to serve 45 young people.