The Primary Prevention Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program is an initiative of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, administered by the Administration for Children & Families (ACYF) through the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB). The program aims to provide funding for strategies and services that prevent homelessness among youth between the ages of 12 and 26. This includes populations at high risk of experiencing homelessness, housing instability, or victimization such as human trafficking, and those transitioning out of foster care, the juvenile justice system, or residential behavioral health systems.
Funding is offered through demonstration grants to state agencies, tribal governments, counties, cities, and public and private nonprofit organizations. The program seeks to implement primary prevention services for youth at risk of homelessness while enhancing cross-system collaboration among key community partners. It emphasizes addressing systemic issues such as lack of affordable housing, poverty, and challenging family dynamics. A critical component of the program requires applicants to engage youth with lived expertise in the project’s design and implementation, which includes the establishment of local youth advisory boards.
The program will have an 18-month period of performance, beginning with a 6-month planning phase. Awardees are required to participate in a federally sponsored evaluation. Primary prevention efforts funded by this program aim to address broad structural factors contributing to homelessness risk while building protective factors for the youth population. Strategies may include poverty reduction, anti-violence initiatives, and early childhood supports aimed at enhancing housing stability and promoting social inclusion.
Eligible applicants include a wide range of government entities and nonprofit organizations. Specific exclusions apply to individuals and foreign entities. Faith-based and community organizations meeting the eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply on equal footing with other applicants. The federal regulations cited (45 CFR Part 87 and 42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq.) ensure nondiscrimination in selection based on religious character or affiliation.
Applications are forecasted to open on June 16, 2025, with a submission deadline of July 30, 2025. Awards are expected to be announced by August 29, 2025, with projects commencing by September 30, 2025. The estimated total program funding is $2,450,000, with individual awards ranging between $100,000 and $350,000. Seven awards are anticipated, and cost sharing or matching is required.
Prospective applicants can contact Chris Holloway at 202-604-7563 or via email at christopher.holloway@acf.hhs.gov for further information. This grant opportunity is currently in forecast status, and additional details will be available upon the official release of the grant package.
