The Primary Prevention Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program

The Primary Prevention Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program is a federally funded initiative managed by the Administration for Children & Families under the Family and Youth Services Bureau (ACYF/FYSB), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This program reflects HHS’s ongoing commitment to addressing systemic contributors to youth homelessness through proactive, community-based interventions. The opportunity is designed as a discretionary grant delivered via cooperative agreements, providing state agencies, tribes, local governments, and nonprofit entities with funding to pilot and evaluate comprehensive prevention strategies for youth homelessness. This funding opportunity focuses on primary prevention efforts, targeting young people ages 12 to 26 who are at risk of becoming homeless. It seeks to reach those particularly vulnerable due to housing instability, poverty, family dynamics, or recent transitions from foster care, juvenile justice, or residential behavioral health systems. The program encourages applicants to implement evidence-informed, community-rooted strategies that aim to disrupt pathways into homelessness. These strategies may include housing stabilization efforts, community inclusion work, and broader poverty reduction initiatives. A critical emphasis of this demonstration grant is the integration of youth with lived experience in every phase of the program—from design to execution. All applicants must demonstrate active collaboration with young people and establish local youth advisory boards as a core component of their project. This requirement ensures that the interventions are not only effective but also responsive to the real-world experiences and needs of those most at risk. The period of performance for awarded projects is 18 months, which includes a six-month planning period. During this time, award recipients are expected to finalize plans, build partnerships, and refine intervention models before full implementation. Participation in a federally sponsored evaluation is also mandatory, ensuring the collection of consistent data and facilitating scalable best practices across communities. Eligibility for this grant is broad and inclusive. It is open to public and private nonprofit organizations, federally recognized tribal governments and Native American tribal organizations, state governments, city and county governments, institutions of higher education (both public and private), and certain special district governments. Individuals and foreign entities are explicitly excluded from applying. Faith-based and community organizations that meet eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply and will be treated equally under federal statutes ensuring religious nondiscrimination. Applications must be submitted electronically no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time on July 30, 2025. The estimated date for posting the official application package is June 16, 2025, with awards expected to be announced by August 29, 2025. The anticipated project start date is September 30, 2025. Matching contributions are required, though specific match amounts are not detailed and may vary by applicant. Inquiries about the program can be directed to Chris Holloway at 202-604-7563 or via email at christopher.holloway@acf.hhs.gov.