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Preliminary HSD analysis: youth and families make up an estimated third of households served, data gaps persist
Summary
OHCSHousing Stabilization Division presented preliminary analysis estimating that unaccompanied youth and households with children account for about 33% of households served across HSD programs. Staff emphasized HMIS data inconsistencies, undercounting of youth, and the need for cross-agency collaboration; a final report is expected in fall 2026.
Oregon Housing Stabilization Division staff presented preliminary findings from a landscape analysis of programs that serve unaccompanied youth and households with children. Emily Edwards, the prevention policy and planning analyst, said data challenges in HMIS and differences in program reporting mean the findings are provisional, but early estimates indicate youth and families represent about one-third of households served across HSD programs during the 2023to25 biennium.
Edwards said households with children are the largest represented group in the agency's preliminary funding estimates (about 22% of funding), while unaccompanied youth aged 18to25 represented around 8%. Staff cautioned about data recording differences that may undercount certain youth populations, particularly households where HUD guidance recommends separate household records for multiple unaccompanied youth.
The presentation flagged program-specific details: Youth Emergency Housing Assistance (YEEHA) was originally allocated $5,000,000 for targeted counties, a Rental Assistance for Youth (RAY) pilot had $4,500,000, and HSP serves TANF-referred households with more restrictive eligibility. Staff also highlighted that eviction-prevention programs such as ORDAP served a high share of youth and family households (56% in one set of program data) and that ORDAP funding was reduced by about 66% between biennia, a cut staff said disproportionately affects youth and families.
Edwards and Liz Weber said the team will continue data reconciliation, add missing programs (CSBG, weatherization-managed programs), and incorporate lived-experience engagement; a final report is expected in fall 2026. Council members urged staff to include cost-per-household impact estimates to show how funding reductions translate into households served.
