CASH LA (Cohort 2 / Second Phase)
CASH LA is a homelessness-prevention program for young adults in Los Angeles County who are at imminent risk of losing housing. Participants build a personalized Housing Action Plan with a trained provider and then receive a one-time, tailored cash payment to execute it, along with access to financial coaching. The program's second phase (referred to in seed data as Cohort 2) launched in 2026 and is led by Safe Place for Youth, following an initial 2025 phase led by the AMAAD Institute. It is funded by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and private donors, in partnership with Point Source Youth and LA Emissary.
Youth homelessness prevention, One-time cash transfer, LGBTQ+ inclusive, Housing Action Plan, Second cohort of CASH LA
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- Safe Place for Youth (SPY)
- City
- Los Angeles
- State / Province
- California
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Phone
- +1 310 902 2283
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Active
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 100
- Funding type
- Philanthropic
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Payment frequency
- Lump Sum
- Distribution Type
- Re-loadable debit card
- Benefit details
Payment amount is not fixed; it is tailored to each participant's approved Housing Action Plan and budget (documented examples from the program include payments such as $3,500 and $4,000 used for rent, tuition, car repairs, and deposits). Funds are disbursed as a one-time payment via a re-loadable debit card issued through Usio, Inc. Participants also receive supportive services such as financial planning and budgeting while enrolled.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Eligible participants are young adults, generally ages 18-30, in Los Angeles County who are at imminent risk of losing their housing (housing instability) but not yet unhoused. Applicants work with a local trained provider/referral partner to develop a Housing Action Plan, which must be approved before funds are disbursed. Referrals come through a network of youth-serving community organizations across LA County.
Demographics
- Minimum age
- 18
- Maximum age
- 30
Housing
- Housing status
- Displaced
Geography
- US states covered
- California
- Countries covered
- United States
- Cities covered
- Los Angeles
- Counties covered
- Los Angeles
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Participation
- Research / data sharing
- Optional
- Complementary program enrollment required
- Financial planning and budgeting support (offered as part of program enrollment)
- Research / participation requirements
The program's design and pre-implementation were informed by focus groups with LA youth and youth consultants with lived experience of homelessness, coordinated by Point Source Youth and LA Emissary. Johns Hopkins University is noted (per seed data) as evaluating a related multi-state direct cash transfer/targeted housing assistance initiative; a program-specific final evaluation report for CASH LA Cohort 2 was not independently verified as of this research.
Application Process
- How to apply
Not a direct public application; eligible young adults are connected to CASH LA through referral partner organizations across LA County (e.g., LA Emissary, Los Angeles LGBT Center, Stepping Forward LA, SUDIS, Harbor Interfaith Services, AMAAD Institute) and meet with a local trained provider to build a Housing Action Plan.
- Selection process
Participants are identified and referred through partner youth-serving organizations in LA County based on imminent risk of housing loss; a trained provider works with each young person to develop and approve an individualized Housing Action Plan before a payment is issued.
