About YHDP
The Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) is a US Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) initiative designed to support communities across the U.S in the development and implementation of a coordinated community approach to preventing and ending youth homelessness. In 2019, Baltimore City was one of 23 communities selected in the third round of YHDP and awarded $3,699,336 to implement a local plan to prevent and end homelessness among youth and young adults in Baltimore City.
YHDP funding will support a wide range of housing programs and support services, including rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, family-based setting support program, and diversion. Eligible populations are unaccompanied youth and young adults experiencing homelessness, including unaccompanied pregnant or parenting youth and young adults with no member of the household older than 24. YHDP will also support youth-focused performance measurement and coordinated entry systems to quickly connect young people in need with other services and systems of care.
Youth Voice & Lived Expertise
YHDP was developed with youth in mind and is based on recommendations provided directly by young people who have lived experience of homelessness. The program recognizes that youth should be leading partners in all aspects related to the coordinated community response to youth homelessness.
Community Collaboration
Over the past year, Baltimore City Continuum of Care (CoC) worked closely with its Youth Action Board, the Mayor's Office of Homeless Services, child welfare agencies, and other community partners to develop a comprehensive community plan to end youth homelessness.
We recognize that no individual organization is equipped to solve the community-level challenge of youth homelessness by itself and look forward to continuing to work together as a community to co-create a Baltimore City where every youth and young adult has a place to call home and the support they need to maintain housing stability, stay healthy, and thrive.