The Washington State Office of Homeless Youth

About

In 2015, advocacy efforts led by young people helped pass the Homeless Youth Act to create the Office of Homeless Youth (OHY) — making Washington State the first state with a state agency focused on preventing youth homelessness.

OHY works statewide to reduce homelessness among youth (ages 12-17) and young adults (ages 18-24) by collaborating with community programs to secure funding, develop policies, and implement best practices.

Priority Service Areas

  • Stable Housing: Every youth has a safe and healthy place to sleep.

  • Family Reconciliation: Families are reunited when safe and appropriate.

  • Permanent Connections: Youth have opportunities to establish positive, healthy relationships with adults.

  • Education and Employment: Youth have opportunities to advance their education or training and obtain employment.

  • Social and Emotional Well-Being: Youth have access to behavioral and physical health care; services nurture each youth’s strengths and abilities.

Programs Provided

OHY’s reach spreads across 37 out of 39 counties.
Funding is provided for the following programs and services:

  • Prevention Programs such as the Homeless Student Stability Program, the Homelessness Prevention and Diversion Fund, Youth Diversion Infrastructure Project, Housing Stability for Youth in Courts, and System of Care Grants

  • Youth Homelessness Demonstration Projects (YHDP) such as Rapid Re-Housing and Supportive Services

  • Therapeutic services for minors

  • Transitional Living Programs for young people aged 16+

  • HOPE and Crisis Residential Centers (shelter) for minors

  • Young Adult Housing Programs

  • Outreach, including Street Outreach Services and Young Adult Shelter

Washington State’s Efforts to End Youth Homelessness

In 2024, OHY released the Yes to Yes report.

Based on data collected from 2016-2022, the report demonstrates that Washington’s innovative and collaborative approaches to ending youth homelessness are working.

  • Since 2020, the state has seen a 40% reduction in youth homelessness.  

  • Nearly 10,000 young people are no longer experiencing homelessness since OHY’s founding.

While Washington is making great strides in ending the homelessness of youth and young adults, there are still far too many young people living in cars, on sofas, and without a safe place to call home.

With support from the Washington State Legislature, key programs - like HPDF - can continue to support our state’s young people find secure and safe housing.