The Homeless Youth Program is a grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services that funds services for homeless and at-risk youth across Illinois. Administered through the Office of Community and Positive Youth Development, it supports nonprofit organizations delivering shelter, outreach, and support services to young people experiencing homelessness or housing instability.

Eligible applicants are Illinois-based nonprofits with demonstrated capacity to serve youth. Awards range from $100,000 to $800,000 per year under CSFA number 444-80-0711. This is a FY 2026 funding opportunity with an application deadline of May 21, 2025.

IDHS: Homeless Youth (26-444-80-0711-02) Notice of Funding Opportunity --> Anyone, 6 months or older, is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Find your nearest vaccination location at vaccines. gov .

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Quintero, Secretary IDHS Grants Administration Family & Community Services Grants - FY 2026 Office of Community & Positive Youth Development Opportunities Homeless Youth (26-444-80-0711-02) Notice of Funding Opportunity 1. - Basic Information (CSFA Data Section) Items A through E are included in the CSFA Data Table below.

Funding Opportunity Title Funding Opportunity Number Assistance Listing Number(s) Awarding Agency Name (1-A) Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Family and Community Services, Office of Community & Positive Youth Development, Bureau of Youth Intervention Services DHS. YouthServicesInfo@illinois.

gov Funding Opportunity Title (1-B) Funding Opportunity Number (1-D) May 21, 2025, 12:00pm (noon) CST Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA) Number Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA) Name Assistance Listing Number(s) (1-E) General Revenue and Other State Funds Estimated Total Program Funding Amount Anticipated Number of Awards Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement? Restrictions on Indirect Costs?

Yes (Indirect Costs must be approved) A Federal or State Indirect Cost rate must be approved, or the de minimis may be used up to 15%. If the Organization has an approved indirect cost rate of less than the de minimis the Approved Federal/State rate must be used, or less.

Technical Assistance Session Offered Yes, TA session April 29, 2025, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm Technical Assistance Registration Homeless Youth Session The Department expects to award approximately $12 million. The source of funding for this program is State General Revenue and Other State Funds. The Department anticipates funding approximately 30 grant awards to provide this program.

Expected Dollar Amount of Individual Grant Awards The Department anticipates that the dollar amount of individual awards will be $100,000 to $800,000. Average Amount of Funding per Grant Award in previous years. Average funding amount for this grant award program in previous years was $425,000.

Renewal or Supplementation of Existing Projects Eligibility Existing Projects: Applications from existing projects / providers are eligible to compete with applications for new State awards. Note: Existing projects/providers MUST compete to receive funding after 6/30/25. Renewal: Successful applicants under this NOFO may be eligible to receive two subsequent one-year grant renewals for this program.

Renewals are at the discretion of the Department and are based on sufficient appropriation and performance criteria including, but not limited to: Grantee has performed satisfactorily during the previous reporting period. All required reports have been submitted on time, unless a written exception has been provided by the Division/Department.

No outstanding issues are present (e.g., in good standing with all pre-qualification requirements and no outstanding corrective action, etc.) Sub-Recipient Agreement(s) and budgets must be pre-approved by the Department and on file with the Department. Sub-Recipients are subject to all provisions of this Agreement. The successful applicant Agency shall retain sole responsibility for the performance and monitoring of the sub-recipient.

Pre-Award costs prior to the start date of the grant agreement are not allowable for this award. IDHS grants are governed by 2 CFR. Part 200, Subpart E-Cost Principles.

Principles and 30 ILCS 708 which include information on allowable costs, audit requirements, and financial records. To charge indirect costs to this grant, the applicant organization must have a Federal or State annually negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) or must elect to use the De Minimis Rate. Indirect costs charged to the grant may not exceed the approved rate.

Indirect Cost Rate Election: Federally Negotiated Rate: Organizations that receive direct federal funding may have an indirect cost rate that was negotiated with the Federal Cognizant Agency. Illinois will accept the federally negotiated rate. The organization must provide a copy of the federal NICRA with their application.

State Negotiated Rate: The organization must negotiate an indirect cost rate with the State of Illinois by completing an indirect cost rate proposal in the CARS system if they do not have a Federally Negotiated Rate or elect to use the de minimis Rate. De Minimis Rate: An organization that has never received a Federal or State Negotiated Rate may elect a de minimis rate of 15% of modified total direct cost (MTCD).

Once established, the de minimis rate may be used indefinitely. The State of Illinois must verify the calculation of the MTDC annually in order to accept the de minimis rate. If programs elect to use the de minimis rate, it is critical that program budgets accurately calculate the MTDC base.

Please see the regulation below and note the exclusions to MTDC. 2 CFR 200. 86 Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC): MTDC means all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first $50,000 of each subaward (regardless of the period of performance of the subawards under the award).

MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs, and the portion of each subaward in excess of $50,000. Other items may only be excluded when necessary to avoid a serious inequity in the distribution of indirect costs and with the approval of the cognizant agency for indirect costs.

The release of this NOFO does not obligate the Illinois Department of Human Services to make an award. Application Posting Date: April 21, 2025 The Department must receive the Preliminary Submission materials (Letter of Intent, etc.): N/A The Department must receive the Full Application: Due on May 21, 2025, at 12:00 pm CST. Anticipated Award Date July 1, 2025.

Anticipated Start Dates and Periods of Performance for new grant awards. a. Subject to appropriation, the grant period will begin no sooner than July 1, 2025, and will continue through June 30, 2026.

The Homeless Youth program serves those youth who are 14 to 23 years of age who cannot return home and/or lack the housing and skills necessary to live independently. The program strives to meet the immediate safety and survival needs of youth (food, clothing, and shelter) and to provide services that help homeless youth transition to independent living and become self-sufficient.

Services to be provided will include emergency shelter, outreach/case management and transitional living. The services available to youth in these programs include: housing, food, needed goods, and assistance in obtaining and maintaining available support and services in the community, educational services, basic life skills, employment and/or vocational training.

The program also ensures necessary service referrals to CCBYS, Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Prenatal and Parenting. The Homeless Youth (HY) program is a holistic model designed to increase the safety of youth ensuring that their basic survival needs are met while also providing safe and stable housing; education and employment services, and the life skills necessary to become self-sufficient.

The primary service delivery approach includes assessment and individualized case management.

The model include requires all of the following basic program components: Outreach/Case Management (OR/CM) Outreach programs are designed to identify homeless youth to ensure that their basic safety, survival and immediate needs are being met, and to provide, when possible, case management and other services designed to assist the youth in making healthy lifestyle choices.

Emergency Shelter/Interim Housing (ES/IH) Emergency Shelter/Interim Housing programs provide temporary housing and services to homeless youth on a 24-hour basis for up to 120 days. These programs are designed to ensure that basic safety, survival and immediate needs are being met, to reunify the youth with his/her family, when possible or to transition them from homelessness to self-sufficient living.

Transitional Living programs provide housing and services to homeless youth for up to 24 months. Programs are designed to transition youth from homelessness to self-sufficient living; and/or to reunify the youth with his/her family, when possible.

All Homeless Youth providers will have the capacity to address the immediately identifiable needs of homeless youth through an emergency safety assessment/care plan that will identify and address immediate needs such as safety, food, clothing, shelter, medical, etc. through direct interventions and appropriate referrals.

Providers will have one or more facilities located in areas frequented by and/or easily accessible by homeless youth where Outreach services will be made available. Outreach/Case Management services will include maintaining the capacity to provide case management services to youth not housed in the program at any given time.

All providers will have the capacity to provide homeless youth access to age-appropriate emergency/interim shelter available on a 24-hour basis for a maximum of 120 days. All projects will have a Transitional Living Program component that will provide stable, safe living accommodations for youth for a maximum of 24 months.

These accommodations may be host family homes, group homes, supervised apartments, etc. Supervised apartments are either agency-owned apartment buildings or "scattered-site" apartments, which are single-occupancy apartments rented directly by youth with support from the agency or rented directly by the supporting agency.

All services and supports should be crafted and provided ensuring marginalized communities -youth of color, LEP youth, LGBTQ+ youth, youth with disabilities and/or mental/behavioral health conditions- are being served in culturally and linguistically appropriate ways. Agency Contact Information. If you have questions about this NOFO, please contact Julie Stremlau at DHS.

YouthServicesInfo@illinois. gov . A frequently asked Question and Answer page is posted on the DHS website.

Questions submitted up to 7 calendar days prior to the end of the NOFO posting period, will be posted on the website. If you have questions relating to this NOFO, please send them via email to: DHS. YouthServicesInfo@illinois.

gov with "HY" in the subject line of the email. Beginning April 21, 2025. Questions with their respective answers will be posted here: Homeless Youth Technical Assistance, Appendices and Questions & Answers.

Questions and answers will be updated frequently as new questions are received. Applicants are responsible for checking frequently as the responses provided may have an impact on their ability to submit a responsive application. Only written answers posted on the website will be considered valid and official.

The final deadline to submit any written questions regarding this Funding Notice will be Wednesday, May 14, 2025. The Final listing of Q&A will be posted by End of Day on Friday, May 16, 2025. This competitive funding opportunity is limited to applicants that meet the following requirements and are subject to limitations described below.

Eligible Applicants are limited to those public and private nonprofit community-based organizations subject to 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) of the tax code (26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) or 26 U.S.C.

501(c)(4)). In addition to the above non-profit community-based organizations, eligible applicants are inclusive of units of local government, public schools, districts and Regional Offices of Education. Applications will only be eligible for consideration that propose programming that includes ALL three required program components (Outreach/Outreach Case Management; Emergency Shelter/Interim Housing; and Transitional Living).

Applications will NOT be considered eligible that propose fewer than 4 daily program slots/beds in any of the 3 required components. Agency Licensure - Successful applicants must hold all necessary licensees for the program model proposed. Agencies that provide housing for youth under the age of 18 must be licensed by DCFS.

The type of license that is appropriate for any given program (for example, child welfare, aggregate living, etc.) will be determined by DCFS. Please refer to Title 89, Chapter II, Subchapter d, Part 37 Facilities and programs exempt from licensure AND subchapter e, Part 410 Licensing standards for youth emergency shelters. A copy of your agency's appropriate current License must be included in Attachment A6 .

If a HY grantee subcontracts for housing services, the subcontractor (also known as the sub-recipient), like the grantee, must also hold a valid current license issued by the Department of Children and Family Services. A copy of the appropriate License(s) is to also be included as Attachment S3 .

Providers agree to remain in compliance with the licensing requirements of the Child Care Act of 1969, as amended, including all applicable rules promulgated by the Department of Children and Family Services pursuant to the Child Care Act with any and all other applicable standards prescribed by State or Federal law or regulations.

The provider must be able to provide all program components at proposed capacity on or before October 1, 2025. This will be demonstrated in the Timeline included as Attachment A5 . Applicants will be asked to verify their eligibility by providing a current Federal Form W9 and a copy of their IRS Determination Letter as Attachment A8.

The applicant must meet the Registration pre-qualification, and any other mandatory Requirements listed in this funding opportunity.

Applicants must provide the following information via the Grantee Portal annually to be registered with the State of Illinois as an awardee: Organization name and contact information Federal Employee Identification Number (FEIN) Unique Identity Number (UEI) Applicants must be prequalified; therefore, applications from entities that have not prequalified prior to and on the due date of this application will NOT be reviewed and will NOT be considered for funding.

Items a) through e) below are the prequalification requirements. Unique Entity Identifiers and SAM Registration: Each applicant (unless the applicant is an individual or State awarding agency that is exempt from those requirements under 2 CFR § 25. 110(b) or (c), or has an exception approved by the Federal or State awarding agency under 2 CFR § 25.

110(d)) is required to: Be registered in Sam. gov before the application due date. Provide a valid unique entity identifier (UEI) in its application.

Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active award or an application or plan under consideration by the awarding agency. The State Agency may not make an award until applicant has fully complied to all UEI and SAM requirements.

The State Agency may determine that an applicant is not qualified if they have not complied to requirements and use that determination as a basis to award another applicant or applicants. Must be in "good standing" with the Illinois Secretary of State if the Illinois Secretary of State requires the entity's organization type to be registered. Must not be on the Illinois Stop Payment List Must not be on the Sam.

gov Exclusion List Must not be on the Medicaid Sanctions List (DHFS Provider Sanctions List) Additional Mandatory Requirements: Applications will only be eligible for consideration that propose programming that includes ALL three required program components (Outreach/Outreach Case Management; Emergency Shelter/Interim Housing; and Transitional Living).

Applications will NOT be considered eligible that propose fewer than 4 daily program slots/beds in any of the 3 required components. Agency Licensure - Successful applicants must hold all necessary licensees for the program model proposed. Agencies that provide housing for youth under the age of 18 must be licensed by DCFS.

The type of license that is appropriate for any given program (for example, child welfare, aggregate living, etc.) will be determined by DCFS. Please refer to Title 89, Chapter II, Subchapter d, Part 37 Facilities and programs exempt from licensure AND subchapter e, Part 410 Licensing standards for youth emergency shelters. A copy of your agency's appropriate current License must be included in Attachment A6 .

If a HY grantee subcontracts for housing services, the subcontractor (also known as the sub-recipient), like the grantee, must also hold a valid current license issued by the Department of Children and Family Services. A copy of the appropriate License(s) is to also be included as Attachment S3 .

Providers agree to remain in compliance with the licensing requirements of the Child Care Act of 1969, as amended, including all applicable rules promulgated by the Department of Children and Family Services pursuant to the Child Care Act with any and all other applicable standards prescribed by State or Federal law or regulations. Eligibility factors for the principal investigator or project director: 1.

As necessary staff must meet staffing requirements set forth by any mandated by DCFS Licensing requirements. Successful Applicants will not receive an award if pre-award requirements are not met. Qualified status is re-verified nightly.

If the entity's status changes, an email notice is sent to the designated entity representative with a link to the Grantee Portal. See Section 4 Application Contents and Format; i. A.

f. for funding restrictions, if applicable. Other factors that would disqualify an applicant or application: N/A Limit on number of applications: N/A Cost Sharing: Providers are not required to participate in cost sharing or provide match.

The general purpose of the funding is to fund public or private not-for-profit community-based organizations throughout the state to provide the Homeless Youth program model described in this funding notice, and it is expected to meet the basic needs of homeless youth and increase their capacity to achieve/maintain safe and stable housing for the public good.

The Homeless Youth program serves those youth who are 14 to 23 years of age who cannot return home and/or lack the housing and skills necessary to live independently. The program strives to meet the immediate safety and survival needs of youth (food, clothing, and shelter) and to provide services that help homeless youth transition to independent living and become self-sufficient.

Services to be provided will include emergency shelter, outreach/case management and transitional living. The services available to youth in these programs include: housing, food, needed goods, and assistance in obtaining and maintaining available support and services in the community, educational services, basic life skills, employment and/or vocational training.

The program also ensures necessary service referrals to CCBYS, Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Prenatal and Parenting. The Homeless Youth (HY) program is a holistic model designed to increase the safety of youth ensuring that their basic survival needs are met while also providing safe and stable housing; education and employment services, and the life skills necessary to become self-sufficient.

The primary service delivery approach includes assessment and individualized case management.

The model include requires all of the following basic program components: Outreach/Case Management (OR/CM) Outreach programs are designed to identify homeless youth to ensure that their basic safety, survival and immediate needs are being met, and to provide, when possible, case management and other services designed to assist the youth in making healthy lifestyle choices.

Emergency Shelter/Interim Housing (ES/IH) Emergency Shelter/Interim Housing programs provide temporary housing and services to homeless youth on a 24-hour basis for up to 120 days. These programs are designed to ensure that basic safety, survival and immediate needs are being met, to reunify the youth with his/her family, when possible or to transition them from homelessness to self-sufficient living.

Transitional Living programs provide housing and services to homeless youth for up to 24 months. Programs are designed to transition youth from homelessness to self-sufficient living; and/or to reunify the youth with his/her family, when possible.

All Homeless Youth providers will have the capacity to address the immediately identifiable needs of homeless youth through an emergency safety assessment/care plan that will identify and address immediate needs such as safety, food, clothing, shelter, medical, etc. through direct interventions and appropriate referrals.

Providers will have one or more facilities located in areas frequented by and/or easily accessible by homeless youth where Outreach services will be made available. Outreach/Case Management services will include maintaining the capacity to provide case management services to youth not housed in the program at any given time.

All providers will have the capacity to provide homeless youth access to age-appropriate emergency/interim shelter available on a 24-hour basis for a maximum of 120 days. All projects will have a Transitional Living Program component that will provide stable, safe living accommodations for youth for a maximum of 24 months.

These accommodations may be host family homes, group homes, supervised apartments, etc. Supervised apartments are either agency-owned apartment buildings or "scattered-site" apartments, which are single-occupancy apartments rented directly by youth with support from the agency or rented directly by the supporting agency.

All services and supports should be crafted and provided ensuring marginalized communities -youth of color, LEP youth, LGBTQ+ youth, youth with disabilities and/or mental/behavioral health conditions- are being served in culturally and linguistically appropriate ways.

Each successful applicant will provide an array of services to these youth that will include: emergency safety assessments/care plans; comprehensive individualized assessments; individualized case management; housing; needed goods (clothing, shoes, food and personal hygiene products, etc.); benefits services (e.g., SSI, SSDI, WIC, TANF etc.); educational services; life skills/independent living skills; employment and/or vocational training ; recreational services; social skills training; prevention services; transportation; individual counseling; services for special needs populations (pregnant; parenting; LEP; LGBTQ+; delinquent; physically and developmentally disabled) such as access to child care; parenting classes; prenatal care; nutrition education, etc. and services generally provided through referral including: substance abuse services; legal services; mental health services; physical health services; dental services etc.; discharge planning; and follow-up services.

The State agency's funding priorities or focus areas. IDHS expects to fund comprehensive Homeless Youth programs that provide all three mandatory program components. Applications will only be funded that propose programming that includes ALL three required program components: Outreach/Case Management; Emergency Shelter/Interim Housing; and Transitional Living.

Applications will be considered ineligible for consideration if the application proposes a daily capacity in any of the three required components of less than 4 beds/slots. IDHS expects to fund programs in regionally diverse areas across the state. IDHS intends to prioritize programs that are designed to provide Outreach/Outreach Case management and Emergency Shelter/Interim Housing homeless youth services to minor youth.

IDHS expects to fund Homeless Youth programs that have a strong partnership with their local Comprehensive Community-Based Youth Services Provider as demonstrated by a letter of support that describes past, present and the planned future partnership around the proposed Homeless Youth program.

Goals and Objectives of the Program Providers will implement a holistic model that includes an outreach component, an emergency shelter/interim housing component and a transitional living component. The primary service delivery approach will be individualized case management. Providers are expected to meet the service numbers proposed in their application/plan for each program component.

Applicants must propose a plan that meets or exceeds the minimum daily capacity of 4 beds/slots for each separate program component. Applications will not be accepted that fail to meet or exceed these minimums.

Outreach / Outreach Case Management Requirements Outreach programs are designed to identify homeless youth who are not wards of the State, to ensure that their basic safety, survival and immediate needs are being met, and to provide case management and other services designed to assist homeless youth in making healthy lifestyle choices.

Eligibility requirements: Youth must be at least 14 years of age and may not have reached their 24th birthday. Youth may not be enrolled after their 24th birthday.

For youth up to the age of 18, including minor unmarried parents, immediately upon intake, the provider must notify the local CCBYS (Comprehensive Community-Based Youth Services) agency about any youth who is a minor away from home who has run away or whose parents will not allow him/her into the home; and when necessary notify DCFS and /or the local law enforcement.

The Homeless Youth Provider will ensure that outreach will include marginalized youth, including youth of color, youth with disabilities, gender nonconforming youth, etc. All youth will immediately receive the following: A safety assessment; an emergency care/safety plan and that plan will be implemented to ensure that the immediately identifiable needs of these youth in crisis are met, including food, clothing, emergency shelter, survival aid, medical treatment, emergency mental health /substance use referral/ treatment, etc. Referring youth under the age of 18 to the local CCBYS provider as indicated above.

Contacting the DCFS hotline in required situations. When necessary, youth will have access to age-appropriate emergency shelter. Whenever possible, youth will receive the following: Comprehensive individualized assessment and case planning services.

Providers must develop and maintain the daily capacity to provide assessment-based, individualized case management services to not fewer than the number of slots/youth proposed and approved in the application. Help to reunify youth with his/her family where appropriate. Help to achieve safe, stable living arrangements.

Information on employment, job readiness and support services; Responding to the educational needs of youth. Informing them of their rights and working with the appropriate McKinney-Vento liaison to ensure their rights are honored. (Federal law that ensures youth experiencing homelessness have full and equal access to an appropriate public education and that they experience success in school.)

Offering education, prevention, and access to intervention services on issues related to domestic violence, sexual abuse, exploitation or human trafficking.

Outreach Program Activities at a minimum will include: Contacting homeless youth where they congregate, through site based outreach and/or a drop in shelter; Conducting outreach events - Services are provided in areas where homeless youth are known to congregate or where they are located; or Other outreach activities These are activities within the community designed to make them aware of services available at the agency.

This may include in-person outreach, flyers, speaking to community groups, hotlines and/or other means of establishing the agency as a resource for homeless youth. Emergency Shelter/Interim Housing (ES ) Emergency/Interim Housing programs provide temporary housing and services to homeless youth who are not wards of the State, on a 24-hour basis for up to 120 days.

These programs are designed to ensure that basic safety, survival and immediate needs are being met, to reunify the youth with his/her family, when possible or to transition them from homelessness to self-sufficient living. Programs will also provide case management and other services designed to assist homeless youth in making healthy lifestyle choices.

Eligibility requirements: Youth must be at least 14 years of age and may not have reached their 24th birthday. Youth may not be enrolled after their 24th birthday. Youth enrolled prior to their 24th birthday remain eligible for up to 120 days of service even if it exceeds their 24th birthday.

(Youth will not be terminated on their 24th birthday.)

For youth up to the age of 18, including minor unmarried parents: Immediately upon intake, the provider must notify the local CCBYS (Comprehensive Community-Based Youth Services) agency about any youth who is a minor away from home who has run away or whose parents will not allow him/her into the home; and/or Within 48 business hours of intake, parental permission must be obtained in writing or, if verbal, it must be witnessed by two parties.

If permission cannot be secured within 48 business hours: the agency must document its attempts to secure parental permission; and the agency must follow procedures outlined in the Illinois Juvenile Court Act, found at 705 ILCS 405/3-5.

Agency staff must be available 24 hours a day to enroll youth and provide services that at a minimum will include: The facilities must be in compliance with State and local licensing requirements to operate the proposed housing model. Comply with all DCFS licensing requirements for the housing of youth, particularly those youth under the age of 18. The type of license that is appropriate for any given program will be determined by DCFS.

Please refer to Title 89, Chapter II, Subchapter d, Part 37 Facilities and programs exempt from licensure AND subchapter e, Part 410 Licensing standards for youth emergency shelters.

Conducting a safety assessment; developing an emergency care/safety plan and implementing it to ensure that the immediately identifiable needs of these youth in crisis are met, including food, clothing, emergency shelter, survival aid, medical treatment, emergency mental health /substance use referral/ treatment, etc. Referring youth under the age of 18 to the local CCBYS provider. Contacting the DCFS hotline in required situations.

Providing safe, clean, dry place to sleep for not fewer than the number of daily beds proposed in the application/program plan. Transitional Living programs provide housing and services to homeless youth who are not wards of the State, for up to 24 months. Programs are designed to transition youth from homelessness to self-sufficient living; and/or to reunify the youth with his/her family, when possible.

Eligibility requirements: Youth must be at least 16 years of age and may not have reached their 24th birthday. Youth may not be enrolled after their 24st birthday Services to youth will end with their 24th birthday. Any exception to this rule will be case by case and must be approved in writing by the DHS Program Administrator.

Approved extensions must meet criteria established by DHS and will be 3 months in length. In NO case will extensions exceed one year. For enrollment of youth up to the age of 18, parental permission must be granted or the youth must be partially or fully emancipated.

The facilities must have the capacity to accommodate not fewer than the number of youth previously approved. The facilities must be in compliance with State and local licensing requirements to operate the proposed housing model. Comply with all DCFS licensing requirements for the housing of youth, particularly those youth under the age of 18.

The type of license that is appropriate for any given program will be determined by DCFS. Please refer to Title 89, Chapter II, Subchapter d, Part 37 Facilities and programs exempt from licensure AND subchapter e, Part 410 Licensing standards for youth emergency shelters. Programs must provide homeless youth with stable, safe living accommodations.

Living accommodations may be host family homes, group homes, or supervised apartments. Supervised apartments are either agency-owned apartment buildings or "scattered-site" apartments, which are single-occupancy apartments rented directly by youth or the supporting agency.

Programs must provide youth with basic life skills training, including health promotion, life planning and goal setting, household management and budgeting, and interpersonal skill-building. Interpersonal skill-building must include helping youth develop permanent connections with peers, family and other adults. Programs must also provide pregnant and parenting youth with life skills training in adequate