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Oregon Housing and Community Services

Youth Emergency Housing Assistance (YEHA)

The Youth Emergency Housing Assistance (YEHA) program provides funding to organizations dedicated to supporting K-12 students and their families who are unhoused or facing the risk of homelessness.

The program aims to provide housing-focused services to school-age children and their families to enhance family stability and school success. These services can include (but are not limited to):

  • rent and utilities (including amounts owed),
  • hotel stays,
  • security deposits,
  • moving expenses,
  • application fees,
  • civil legal services,
  • pet rent and deposit,
  • direct cash transfers,
  • housing-related fees,
  • work and educational supports,
  • furniture and household goods,
  • transportation.

This program also aims to establish and promote intentional collaboration between the local education system and housing providers to build a comprehensive family support network and optimize the funding’s impact.

  • The legislature allocated $5 million for YEHA for the 2023-25 biennium. If it’s not fully spent by July 2025, any leftover funds can carry over and be used in the next biennium.

    Are you a youth or young adult looking for help?

    Many organizations care about you and want to help. To find resources near you, go to 211info.org, dial 211 or download their mobile app. Or, access a map of resources available to youth and young adults up to age 21.

    If you live in Coos, Klamath, Lincoln, Douglas, or Josephine counties, you can contact one of the organizations listed below.

    Every school district has at least one staff member who can help youth experiencing homelessness and their families. These employees are called McKinney-Vento Liaisons or Houseless Student Liaisons. Find your district’s liaisons.

    If you are thinking about running away or already have, you can call 800-RUNAWAY (800-786-2929) and talk to someone confidentially. Call now.

    Eligibility

    To be eligible for services, the person applying for help must:

    • Reside in the state of Oregon, and;
    • Be a school-age youth (grades K through 12) that is unaccompanied, or;
    • Be a school-age student (grades K through 12) and their family

    They must also fall into one of the following categories:

    • Program Manual

    Find the Youth Emergency Housing Assistance (YEHA) program manual here. 

    Grantees for the 2023-25 Biennium

    Region 1: Coos County: Coos County Office of Homelessness Response

    Region 2: Klamath County: Integral Youth Services

    Region 3: Lincoln County: Lincoln County Housing Authority

    Region 4: Douglas County: Family Faith and Relationship Advocates

    Region 5: Josephine County: Maslow Project

    ​​OHCS is also funding long-term rental assistance for youth during the 2023-25 biennium. This funding supports youth and young adults under 25 who are transitioning out of:

    • Foster care,
    • Homelessness,
    • Behavioral health or treatment facility, or
    • Corrections or detention facility.

    The Oregon Department of Human Services is also working to end youth homelessness. The Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (YEHP) awards grants and contracts to organizations serving youth who are experiencing homelessness.

    The McKinney-Vento Act for the Education of Houseless Children and Youth Program ensures that unhoused youth can still access a free, appropriate education. Every school district is required to have at least one Houseless Student Liaison to directly help students and their families.

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