Shared Housing + DC Flex: A New Exit Pathway Out of Homelessness That Meets Young People Where They Are

The District's strategic plan for ending youth homelessness is getting a refresh. Building on the original plan, Solid Foundations DC, this year young people will be fully integrated into the District’s citywide framework to end homelessness when we roll out Homeward DC 3.0.

We understand that young people navigating homelessness on their own have different needs than adults. That’s why as part of our strategic planning, we've been working on how to improve exit outcomes for them, with a real focus on making sure they aren't simply aging into the adult system once they turn 25.

Over the last couple of years, we've made changes we believe are improving those outcomes: building youth expertise into our citywide outreach system so any outreach worker—not just staff at a single provider—can recognize a young person and make the right referral; and requiring that every DHS-funded transitional housing program has a dedicated position focused on education and employment, with real targets attached.

This issue of Director’s Corner is about another piece of that work: building exit pathways out of homelessness that meet young people where they are, developmentally and financially.

At DHS, we are committed to expanding pathways to lasting housing stability for our residents, even as rising housing costs and limited resources challenge us to think differently. Today, I'm proud to share a milestone that reflects both creativity and a commitment to that promise: two roommate pairs have now moved into housing through the District's new Shared Housing + DC Flex Pilot for Transition Age Youth (TAY, ages 18–24)—an innovative program that pairs young people experiencing homelessness together as roommates and provides rent support so they can work, pursue education and training, and get back on track.

For years, young adults leaving transitional housing have struggled to find exit pathways that are affordable and sustainable. Only a small number of TAY Rapid Re-Housing slots exist, and deep permanent subsidies, while transformative for some, are targeted at the most vulnerable in our system: typically older, chronically ill adults. Many young adults leaving transitional housing are employed, motivated, and ready to move on, yet the market simply doesn't offer units they can afford. Too many have stayed in transitional housing longer than needed, not because they weren't prepared for independence, but because the system lacked options that fit their lives.

The Shared Housing + DC Flex Pilot begins to change that. It pairs up young adults to rent shared two-bedroom units—just like young people do all across the country, since sharing a unit significantly reduces the burden of rent. For youth in the pilot, DC Flex—a shallow, flexible rental subsidy providing up to $7,200 a year in rent support for up to five years—helps bridge the gap between what young adults can pay and the actual cost of rent. Together, these tools create a housing pathway that's both sustainable and aligned with how young adults already live. The pilot covers the first month's rent, security deposit, and light-touch case management for a year, giving tenants time to stabilize, grow their income, and maintain the unit long after that initial assistance begins to taper.

Two roommate pairs have moved in through this pilot so far. Each move-in represents more than housing; it is a step toward independence that had previously been out of reach. The pilot's goal is to exit 10 young adults, or 5 roommate pairs, out of homelessness into stable, affordable housing this fiscal year.

Small, experimental pilots like this give DHS the space to innovate, test new approaches, and understand what works. We plan to closely monitor outcomes: how stably participants remain housed, how their incomes grow, how long they retain their units, and how the model affects overall system flow. That information will help us determine which strategies are worth expanding, potentially to other populations facing similar barriers.

In a housing landscape defined by increasing rents and constrained resources, creativity and innovation aren't optional—they're necessary. The Shared Housing + DC Flex Pilot shows how our homeless services system can, and must, adapt to meet the realities residents face today. It reflects our belief that young adults deserve not only stability, but a genuine opportunity to build the next chapter of their lives.

Looking ahead, we're excited to be at the table with our partners at the District’s Child and Family Services Agency to further explore how we can support young people with a history of child welfare involvement who may be eligible for other federal housing supports but who aren’t yet receiving them.

Even in challenging fiscal times, the work continues. At DHS, we'll keep advancing models that create sustainable exits, prevent returns to homelessness, and expand options for residents who are ready for independence but need support to get there. This pilot is one step in that direction, and an example of the thoughtful innovation our agency and our system will continue to pursue.