Transition Aged Youth Housing Stability and Support Program (HSSP)

This page provides information about the Transition Aged Youth Housing Stability and Support Program.

In the spring of 2020, the OCA partnered with EOHHS to convene an inter-secretariat work group focused on the urgent needs of transition-age youth at-risk of experiencing homelessness, disrupted education, unemployment, behavioral health challenges, and more as a result of the pandemic.

This led, in January 2021, to the OCA, EOHHS, and the Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Commission successfully launching the first phase of a Housing Stability and Support Program (HSSP) pilot in Springfield and Worcester that served young people, ages 18-21, who opted-out of post-18 DCF care. These young adults were connected to housing, education, employment, transitional assistance programs, and other on-going supports as needed.

Young adults are typically referred by a DCF outreach unit or DCF social workers but may also be referred by other organizations or self-refer. Once a referral is made, HSSP providers engage young adults and assess their need for housing and additional supports. Providers then provide judgment-free cases management services and connect young adults to resources as needed. Finally, providers track program engagement, services provided, and outcomes of young adults to ensure effective programming. Due to preliminary data showing the pilot program to be successful in assisting this population, the pilot program expanded from the original three sites to 11 organizations providing services statewide in December 2021 – January 2022. 

In FY23 and FY24, the OCA contracted with the For Health Consulting Division of UMass Chan Medical School to facilitate data collection and conduct ongoing evaluations to support implementation and assess program outcomes. That evaluation found that youth participating in the program were statistically significantly more likely to have secure housing and employment after participating in HSSP. The program is now fully operationalized and funded by EOHHS.