Oregon Direct Cash Transfers Plus (DCT+)
Oregon Direct Cash Transfers Plus (DCT+) is a two-year unconditional cash pilot for young adults ages 18-24 experiencing homelessness in Multnomah, Clackamas, and Deschutes counties (Portland, Sandy, Bend). Launched in February 2023 by the Oregon Department of Human Services' Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (YEHP) in partnership with Point Source Youth, it paired $1,000 monthly cash payments and a $3,000 one-time enrichment fund with voluntary case management and housing navigation delivered through community partners NAYA, Antfarm, and JBarJ Youth Services. The initial 120-participant pilot was funded through an interagency agreement between ODHS and Oregon Housing and Community Services (public funding). An evaluation by researcher Young People to the Front found 94% of surveyed participants were housed at program exit. The program has since expanded to a second 120-participant cohort including Jackson County/Medford, partly funded through a philanthropic donation and state legislation.
Youth Homelessness, Direct Cash Transfer, Native American Youth Services, State Agency Distribution, Multi-City Pilot
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- Point Source Youth
- City
- New York
- State / Province
- New York
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Active
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 120
- Funding type
- Government
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 27,000 USD
- Avg. Per Month
- 1,125 USD
- Payment frequency
- Variable
- How long the program lasts
- 24 months
- Benefit details
Participants receive $1,000 per month in unrestricted cash for 24 months to cover rent, utilities, and other basic needs, plus a one-time $3,000 enrichment fund for costs such as security deposits, furniture, moving expenses, or education/job training. Cash is paired with voluntary case management, budgeting support, goal-setting, and housing navigation from DCT staff. An evaluation of 63 of the first 120 participants found 94% reported being housed at program exit, 72% were working or in school, and financial literacy workshop participation rose 23%. The specific payment delivery mechanism (e.g., direct deposit, debit card) was not confirmed in available sources.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Eligible participants are young adults ages 18-24 experiencing homelessness in Multnomah, Clackamas, or Deschutes County (Portland, Sandy, Bend area). Enrollment occurs through community partner organizations - Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA), Antfarm, and JBarJ Youth Services - already serving youth experiencing homelessness in those counties. The program is administered under the Oregon Department of Human Services' Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (YEHP), which more broadly serves youth ages 14-24. No income, disability, or family-status eligibility criteria were specified in available sources.
Demographics
- Minimum age
- 18
- Maximum age
- 24
Housing
- Housing status
- Homeless
Geography
- US states covered
- Oregon
- Countries covered
- United States
- Cities covered
- Portland, Sandy, Bend
- Counties covered
- Multnomah, Clackamas, Deschutes
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Participation
- Research / data sharing
- Required
- Research / participation requirements
The program was evaluated by researcher Young People to the Front (yp2f.org), commissioned by the Oregon Department of Human Services. The study surveyed 63 of the pilot's first 120 participants over the two-year support period on housing, education, employment, and financial literacy outcomes. Findings were published in a full report ('DCT+ Final Report') and a two-page executive summary, announced via ODHS press release on January 12, 2026 (seed data's '2025-07' report date was not corroborated by any source found; verified publication/announcement date is January 2026).
Application Process
- How to apply
Enrollment occurs by referral through community partner organizations (NAYA, Antfarm, JBarJ Youth Services) already serving eligible youth in the target counties; specific application steps were not published, and the program is not currently accepting new applications for either enrolled cohort.
- Selection process
Youth experiencing homelessness ages 18-24 in the target counties are identified and enrolled through partner youth-serving organizations working with ODHS's Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (YEHP); further selection criteria/process details were not published.
