New Supervised Transitional Living Program For Youth To Open In OKC with Funding From Pay for Success Contract

Media Release: February 24, 2022

Oklahoma City — A new 24-hour on-site supervised transitional living program (STLP) for system-involved youth will open soon in Oklahoma City. Financial backing for the program was obtained through an innovative funding approach that leverages public and private funds.

While the program will initially utilize the private funds, if pre-defined success outcomes are achieved, the state will repay the upfront investment utilizing its Pay for Success Innovation Fund. That fund is managed by the state’s Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES). It allows success payments to be made for projects on the basis of quantifiable public benefits or monetary savings.

The Impact Accelerator, a subsidiary of Oklahoma-based non-profit, MetaFund, will provide the upfront private funding to Sisu Youth Services to implement the STLP. A recently signed Pay for Success contract between the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (DMHSAS), the lead state agency for the initiative, and Sisu Youth Services will facilitate success payments for positive outcomes.

“We are so excited to be partnering with Sisu Youth Services for this unique supervised transitional housing program for young adults with acute behavioral wellness needs who have been involved in the child welfare or criminal justice systems,” said L. Andru Dallaly, Project Manager for Housing and Runaway and Homeless Youth Services at DMHSAS. “As we all know, secure and stable housing is a foundational basic need that directly correlates to a young person’s ability to thrive and learn the skills they need for independence. It is my sincere hope that this project enhances the conversation statewide on how we address young adult housing needs for youth of all abilities and backgrounds.”

Once staff is hired for the program, it is anticipated that the STLP will work with approximately 18 youth in its first year of operation. Its primary focus will be participants ages 18 to 25 who meet the following criteria: previous child welfare and/or criminal justice involvement; mental health concerns; substance use disorders; moderate to high risk for recidivism; and high risk for homelessness.

STLP services will include housing, employment supports, physical and mental healthcare, substance abuse treatment, connection to social supports, and other participant needs to ensure comprehensive, coordinated care.

“Sisu is thrilled to expand into transitional housing and provide young people experiencing homelessness with a new and supportive step towards stability! Chapin Hall research shows that 1 in 10 young people between the ages of 18 and 25 experience some form of homelessness over the course of a year. Evidence-based programs that provide housing and supportive services to youth in crisis are truly the way that we can change the face of homelessness for our city,” said Jamie Caves, Sisu Youth Services Executive Director.

Transitional Living Programs (TLP) were first funded by Congress in 1988 with the first award made in 1990. They were established as a means of providing needed support for youth that had not been provided in a shelter setting. In 2021, the federal Administration for Children and Families published a study by Abt Associates that showed 78 percent of TLP participants successfully exit to stable housing.

Supervised TLP is the most structured environment of the housing models. With 24-hour, on-site supervision, it is most beneficial for higher-need youth who are not prepared for success with other housing models. The average length of stay for an STLP participant is six months.

“When we follow the journey of Oklahoma youth transitioning out of child welfare or juvenile justice, we see clear opportunities to shore up the bridge between where they’ve been and their next stop on the path to independence,” said Ed Long, Chief Impact Officer for MetaFund. “Bringing together resources from across sectors while keeping the individual at the center of process greatly enhances the likelihood of success.”

The Oklahoma City project was developed in collaboration with four state agencies who will refer into the project and provide ongoing assistance as needed: the DMHSAS, the Department of Human Services (DHS), the Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA), and the Department of Corrections (DOC). These agencies identified STLP as the greatest need for youth housing in Oklahoma City to serve this high-need population.

The Pay for Success loan is expected to be repaid to the Impact Accelerator over a period of three years. Repayment will be based on a formula of stable housing days and employment placement and retention. After the program’s initial year, an estimated 24 participants will complete and exit the project annually in years two and three.