First National Youth Housing Assistance Program Reports Impact in New York City
97% of local program respondents reporting being stably housed after 30 days
New York City - May 6, 2025 - Today, The Door, Henry Street Settlement, Point Source Youth, and Johns Hopkins University released initial findings from the Targeted Housing Assistance Program, a pilot initiative aimed at preventing homelessness among young adults. The program provides a one-time cash payment and targeted service support to young people experiencing an imminent housing crisis, offering immediate financial relief and support to stabilize their housing and prevent homelessness. The program supported 98 young people in the New York City community with 97% of local program respondents reporting being stably housed after 30 days.
“A one-time cash payment is a simple idea, but it can be the difference between housing stability and homelessness for a young person on the verge of crisis. By providing targeted, tailored support when it’s needed most, we can prevent youth homelessness before it starts – more effectively and with longer-lasting impact than emergency interventions alone,” said Kelsey Louie of The Door. “This program not only helps youth navigate immediate housing challenges but enables them to plan for their future and build a strong foundation for long-term safety and success.”
“It has been an honor for Henry Street Settlement to participate in the Point Source Youth pilot project and to assist 46 young people in stabilizing their living situations,” said Matthew Phifer, executive vice president for education and employment. “The mission of Point Source Youth aligns directly with Henry Street’s purpose as a poverty-fighting organization that fosters authentic connections and mutual trust among the participants we serve. We know that having a steady, safe place to stay is the first step in helping young people to seize the opportunities available to them, and we thank Point Source Youth and its generous funders for their insight and dedication in making this crucial connection.”
As a result of the collaboration, The Door and Henry Street Settlement were able to distribute an average of $3,534 and $3,945, respectively. Many of the program participants were supporting entire households, resulting in the continued housing of children, siblings, parents, and partners. While 98 young people received support through the program, that support in turn provided stability to a total of 154 individuals in New York City. This "positive spillover effect" is an often-overlooked opportunity for nonprofit and government agencies looking to address homelessness in their communities. By providing emergency support at critical moments when youth find themselves destabilized, communities not only keep youth housed, but empower youth to extend that stability to others.
After participating in the pilot program with Henry Street Settlement, a 25-year-old named Taurice said, “I know that I’m a hard worker so I feel like there are good things coming my way. As long as I stay on this path, I’m going to have a bright future ahead.”
Point Source Youth partnered with eight service providers, including The Door and Henry Street Settlement, across seven states to help young people navigate their particular housing crises and distribute a one-time cash payment.
“We cannot end youth homelessness without preventing it in the first place, and we know how to successfully achieve this–by providing young people with the cash and tailored support they need, when they need it,” said Larry Cohen, executive director and co-founder of Point Source Youth. “This cost-saving, scalable, and successful program impacted 623 people nationwide. It’s time to make the Targeted Housing Assistance Program available to young people at risk of becoming homeless in even more communities.”
Each program recipient worked with a service provider to complete a customized Housing Action Planning Guide, or “housing plan.” The guide encourages participants to brainstorm housing solutions, create their housing action plan, create a budget, and outline their action steps.
By receiving immediate and flexible funds and targeted support, creating and implementing the housing plan, young people reported being able to cover rent payments, catch up on utilities, make urgent car repairs, and cover medical expenses to support their housing plan. With basic needs and debts taken care of, participants reported being able to concentrate on their employment and education and improve their living situation.
“These results demonstrate that direct cash transfers are a powerful, cost-effective tool to prevent homelessness before it happens,” said Chantella Mitchell, The New York Community Trust’s program director for community development, housing, and human services. “The Trust is proud to support this innovative approach that has cascading benefits for young people and their communities.”
Point Source Youth’s Targeted Housing Assistance Program partnered with service providers across seven states and served 345 young adults at risk of homelessness and 623 total individuals across seven states. Point Source Youth continues to engage with Johns Hopkins University on program research, and additional data documenting three- and six-month housing outcomes will be available in summer 2025.
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About The Door
For teens and young adults navigating life, there’s one door in New York City that is always open. For more than 50 years, The Door has been a trusted place for young people aged 12-24. All are welcomed as they are, to be themselves, address challenges, and access services when and how they need them. With our roots in the heart of New York City and a presence across the boroughs, The Door offers comprehensive programs and services including mental health counseling, health and nutrition assistance, legal services, housing support, arts, education, and career guidance. At The Door, everything is free and everyone is welcome. For more information, visit door.org.
About Henry Street Settlement
Henry Street Settlement opens doors of opportunity for Lower East Side residents and other New Yorkers through social services, arts, and health care programs. Founded in 1893, the organization is distinguished by its commitment to listening to and learning from its neighbors—and then acting to meet the most pressing needs of our community. For more information, visit henrystreet.org
About Point Source Youth
Point Source Youth is a national organization working to prevent and end youth homelessness in the U.S. Point Source Youth provides thought leadership, advocacy, technical assistance, and evaluation to proven interventions that can cost effectively scale nationally to prevent youth homelessness in the first place or provide young people with the resources they need for stable housing if they are experiencing homelessness. After 10 years of work in the field, Targeted Housing Assistance and Direct Cash Transfers, both with youth-directed support, are the interventions that have data showing both their effectiveness and cost-savings. To learn more, visit pointsourceyouth.org.
Media Contact: The Door
Kirkley Strand
Chief Advancement Officer, The Door
kstrand@door.org
Media Contact: Henry Street Settlement
Barbara Kancelbaum
V.P., Communications & Marketing, Henry Street Settlement
718-744-5310 | bkancelbaum@henrystreet.org
Media Contact: Point Source Youth
Abby Leeper Gibson
Principal & Co-Founder, All In Strategic Consulting
402-681-7980 | abby@allinstrategic.com