1. (1)  To be eligible for a Youth Experiencing Homelessness (YEH) – Host Home Project (YEH-HHP) grant, a host home project (see OAR 461-198-0010) must:

   1. (a) Comply with all provisions of YEH-HHP grant agreements.
   2. (b) Ensure all individuals 18 years of age or older residing in the host home (see OAR 461-198-0010) who are not the youth experiencing homelessness (see OAR 461-198-0010) have an approved background check under ORS 181A.200 and 409.027.

   3. (c) Train host home providers with base level information pertinent to hosting youth experiencing homelessness including, but not limited to:

      1. (A) Hosting basics.
      2. (B) Program expectations.
      3. (C) Available ongoing training opportunities.
      4. (D) Safety and emergency plans.
      5. (E) Housing standards.
   4. (d)  Visit a host home property before a youth experiencing homelessness moves into the home, except when exempt from this requirement according to section (2) of this rule.
   5. (e) Facilitate interviews between the youth experiencing homelessness and the host home prior to the youth experiencing homelessness electing to stay there, except when exempt from this requirement according to section (2) of this rule.
   6. (f) Complete ongoing visits to a host home property as needed after a youth experiencing homelessness moves into the home.
   7. (g) Complete informal check-ins with the youth experiencing homelessness.
   8. (h) Provide documented, youth experiencing homelessness driven support planning.

   9. (i)  Provide ongoing support to host home participants (see OAR 461- 198-0010). Support services include but are not limited to:

      1. (A) Case management.
      2. (B) 24-hour, seven day a week community-based crisis support (see OAR 461-198-0010).
   10. (j) Provide documented exit planning for youth experiencing homelessness.
2. (2)  A Host Home Project is exempt from the requirements in subsections (1)(d) and (1)(e) of this rule if the host home project is supporting new host home participants who already reside together.

3. (3) Grant recipients must establish and maintain written operating procedures to support all of the following activities:

   1. (a) Host home recruitment, safety screening, home visitation, training, support, and retention.
   2. (b) Host home housing standards.
   3. (c) Community based crisis support system for host home participants.
   4. (d) Youth experiencing homelessness identification, support, and exit planning.
   5. (e) Collection of programmatic feedback from host home participants.
   6. (f) Reporting YEH-HHP programmatically required data to Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) as outlined in grant agreements.

4. (4) Grant recipients must provide ongoing training for host home providers (see OAR 461-198-0010) and host home project staff on topics aligned with youth experiencing homelessness needs, including but not limited to:

   1. (a) LGBTQIA2S+ 101.
   2. (b) Personal bias.
   3. (c) Assertive communication.
   4. (d) Trauma and resiliency.
   5. (e) Power and privilege.
   6. (f) Adultism.
   7. (g) Cultural competency.
   8. (h) Fair housing law.
   9. (i) Landlord-Tenant law.

5. (5) Grant recipients shall work to achieve the following outcomes for youth experiencing homelessness:

   1. (a) Improved school attendance.
   2. (b) Participation in formal or informal mentoring.
   3. (c) Increased access to nutrition, health care, mental health care, trauma informed support, and transportation services.
6. (6)  A grant recipient and any individual or organization providing services with Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (YEHP) funds may not deny services to, exclude, or otherwise discriminate against a youth experiencing homelessness based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or other protected classes under federal and Oregon civil rights laws.

7. (7)  A grant recipient may not use any portion of YEHP funds (whether through grants, contracts, or other means) to:

   1. (a) Directly influence legislation or policy decisions;

      1. (A) Except when requested to participate as an expert in related committees, counsels, hearings, and proceedings.
      2. (B) No endorsement of specific legislation is permitted.
   2. (b) Retain, compensate, or engage lobbyists to influence government action or policy; or
   3. (c) Participate in any activity that constitutes lobbying.

Statutory/Other Authority

ORS 417.803

Statutes/Other Implemented

ORS 417.803, ORS 181A.200 & ORS 409.027

History

SSP 9-2025, adopt filed 04/24/2025, effective 05/01/2025