Targeted Housing Assistance Program Baltimore (Baltimore THAP)
Baltimore THAP is a homelessness-prevention program launched in 2026 by the New York-based nonprofit Point Source Youth (PSY) in partnership with Thread, a Baltimore youth mentorship organization. It provides up to 50 young people (ages roughly 17-27) enrolled with Thread and at imminent risk of losing housing with a one-time, tailored cash payment after they co-create a 'Housing Action Plan' with a trained provider. Recipients also receive optional supportive services such as financial coaching and mentorship. The program is part of PSY's national Targeted Housing Assistance Program network and is funded by private philanthropy, including the Sherman Family Foundation and the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation.
Youth Homelessness Prevention, Direct Cash Transfer, National THAP Network, Housing Action Plan, One-Time Payment
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- Thread (in partnership with Point Source Youth)
- City
- Baltimore
- State / Province
- Maryland
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Website
- https://www.thread.org/
- Phone
- +1 410 660 8343
- info@thread.org
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Active
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 50
- Funding type
- Nonprofit, Philanthropic
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 3,700 USD
- Payment frequency
- Lump Sum
- Distribution Type
- Direct deposit, Check, Pre-loaded/reloadable debit card
- Benefit details
Eligible young adults meet with a local trained provider to create a customized 'Housing Action Plan' identifying housing solutions, a budget, and next steps. Once approved, participants receive a one-time cash payment tailored to their individual plan rather than a fixed uniform amount. Recipients can also access optional supportive services including case management, financial coaching, housing navigation, and mentorship. Point Source Youth funds and helps troubleshoot the plan but does not dictate how the cash is spent.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Participants must already be enrolled in Thread's youth community and be at imminent risk of losing housing (e.g., facing eviction, being asked to leave their home, or an unsafe living situation) rather than already homeless. Reported eligible age ranges vary by source: Point Source Youth's official Baltimore THAP page cites ages 18-24, the Baltimore Banner cites 18-25, and Baltimore Fishbowl cites 17-27 for Thread-affiliated participants. No income, citizenship, or other eligibility factors were specified in available sources.
Demographics
- Minimum age
- 17
- Maximum age
- 27
Geography
- US states covered
- Maryland
- Countries covered
- United States
- Cities covered
- Baltimore
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Participation
- Research / data sharing
- Optional
- Complementary program enrollment required
- Enrollment in Thread's youth mentorship program required as a prerequisite, optional supportive services (case management, financial coaching, housing navigation, mentorship) offered alongside the cash payment
- Research / participation requirements
Baltimore THAP is grounded in a Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health study of PSY's 7-state THAP pilot (345 youth households across AZ, CA, GA, MI, NY, OR, TX), which found ~92% of participants avoided accessing homeless services for at least six months post-payment. It is unconfirmed whether Baltimore's cohort is itself part of a live, ongoing Johns Hopkins research/evaluation component, or whether Baltimore is simply modeled on that prior research.
Application Process
- How to apply
Not an open public application; participants must already be enrolled in Thread's youth mentorship community. Thread staff identify and refer young people at imminent risk of losing housing, who then work with a trained provider to build an individualized Housing Action Plan before cash is disbursed. Specific step-by-step application instructions were not published in available sources.
- Selection process
Selection is limited to youth already part of Thread's community (which makes a ten-year commitment to participants starting in 9th grade). Eligible young people are identified by Thread as facing imminent housing loss and are enrolled up to a target of 50 participants in the program's first year; PSY youth consultants help guide the process and distribution of funds.
