Direct Cash Transfer (DCT) Program
Spectrum's Direct Cash Transfer (DCT) program gives youth ages 18-24 who are experiencing homelessness or facing imminent risk of it in the Burlington/St. Albans, Vermont area a stable cash flow to pursue housing, jobs, or education. Participants receive $1,500 per month for 18 months, plus a one-time $3,000 withdrawal option, for a total of $30,000 per youth. Built on the 'Cash Plus' model with Point Source Youth, the pilot pairs unconditional cash with case management and prioritizes youth facing added barriers, such as youth of color, LGBTQ+ youth, youth with disabilities or chronic illness, trafficking survivors, and pregnant/parenting youth.
Youth Homelessness, Cash Plus Model, Point Source Youth Partnership, Priority for Marginalized Youth, First DCT Youth Program in New England
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- Spectrum Youth & Family Services
- City
- Burlington
- State / Province
- Vermont
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Website
- https://www.spectrumvt.org/
- Phone
- +1 802-864-7423
- info@spectrumvt.org
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Active
- Number of recipients
- 10
- Funding type
- Government, Philanthropic
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 30,000 USD
- Avg. Per Month
- 1,666.67 USD
- Payment frequency
- Biweekly
- How long the program lasts
- 18 months
- Distribution Type
- Prepaid Debit Card (via the Usio app, which also sets up a bank account for recipients)
- Benefit details
Participants receive $750 twice monthly (totaling $1,500/month) loaded onto a prepaid debit card/account through the Usio app, plus a one-time $3,000 withdrawal available at any point for larger expenses like a move-in cost or security deposit. Youth decide how to spend the funds; the only formal requirement is confirming receipt of each biweekly payment via the app. Recipients also meet monthly with a Spectrum case manager for budgeting, employment, and housing navigation support.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Open to youth ages 18-24 who are experiencing homelessness or at immediate risk of homelessness and are already connected to Spectrum's services in the Burlington/Chittenden County or St. Albans/Franklin County area. Participants are chosen through an 'equity prioritization and lottery hybrid' model, prioritizing youth of color, LGBTQ+ youth, youth with disabilities or chronic illness, trafficking survivors, and pregnant/parenting youth. Selection also weighs a youth's demonstrated desire to work toward stability; there is no open public application.
Demographics
- Minimum age
- 18
- Maximum age
- 24
- Race / ethnicity targets
- Priority (not a strict requirement) given to youth of color
Housing
- Housing status
- Homeless
Health
- Health conditions
- Disability or chronic illness (cited as a priority group for selection, not a strict requirement)
Geography
- US states covered
- Vermont
- Countries covered
- United States
- Cities covered
- Burlington, St. Albans
- Counties covered
- Chittenden County, Franklin County
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Participation
- Complementary program enrollment required
- Case Management, Financial Literacy Coaching, Housing Navigation
- Research / participation requirements
Participants must confirm receipt of each biweekly payment through the Usio app and meet monthly with a Spectrum case manager to discuss budgeting, employment, and progress. Spectrum works with a data consultant and Point Source Youth (drawing on Chapin Hall/University of Chicago research) to track and evaluate program outcomes over time, though this is program monitoring rather than a stated formal research-consent requirement for recipients.
Application Process
- How to apply
There is no open public application; eligible youth are identified and referred through Spectrum's existing housing intake and case management services and then considered for a DCT cohort.
- Selection process
Participants are chosen using an 'equity prioritization and lottery hybrid' model developed jointly by Spectrum staff, administrators, young people, and DCT diversity experts, in partnership with Point Source Youth. Priority is given to youth facing added barriers (youth of color, LGBTQ+ youth, youth with disabilities/chronic illness, trafficking survivors, pregnant/parenting youth), with selection also weighing demonstrated desire to work toward stability.
