Street Outreach Program (SOP)
🏛 Administration for Children & Families - ACYF/FYSB (HHS-ACF-FYSB)
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations and agencies seeking to serve runaway and homeless youth through street-based outreach and engagement. Eligible applicants typically include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, city and state government agencies, tribal organizations, and faith-based organizations. The program supports outreach activities in communities with demonstrated need for homeless and runaway youth services. Geographic scope is nationwide, with priority often given to areas with high youth homelessness. Supported activities include street outreach, drop-in services, case management, basic needs provision, and connection to longer-term support services. Applicants must demonstrate capacity to reach and engage hard-to-reach youth populations and coordinate with other youth-serving systems.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
Key dates
- Apr 28, 2026 Applications open
- Aug 3, 2026 Application deadline in 62 days
- Sep 15, 2026 Award announced
- Sep 30, 2026 Project start
This grant is for organizations and agencies seeking to serve runaway and homeless youth through street-based outreach and engagement. Eligible applicants typically include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, city and state government agencies, tribal organizations, and faith-based organizations. The program supports outreach activities in communities with demonstrated need for homeless and runaway youth services. Geographic scope is nationwide, with priority often given to areas with high youth homelessness. Supported activities include street outreach, drop-in services, case management, basic needs provision, and connection to longer-term support services. Applicants must demonstrate capacity to reach and engage hard-to-reach youth populations and coordinate with other youth-serving systems.
Program description
The Street Outreach Program (SOP) provides street-based services to runaway, homeless, and street youth who have been subjected to, or are at risk of being subjected to, sexual abuse, prostitution, sexual exploitation, and severe forms of human trafficking in persons. These services, targeted in areas where street youth congregate, are designed to assist such youth in making healthy choices and providing them access to shelter or stable housing, as well as basic needs, including food, hygiene packages, and information on a range of available services.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- County Government
- Faith-based Organization
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Demographic focus
Details
This grant is for organizations and agencies seeking to serve runaway and homeless youth through street-based outreach and engagement. Eligible applicants typically include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, city and state government agencies, tribal organizations, and faith-based organizations. The program supports outreach activities in communities with demonstrated need for homeless and runaway youth services. Geographic scope is nationwide, with priority often given to areas with high youth homelessness. Supported activities include street outreach, drop-in services, case management, basic needs provision, and connection to longer-term support services. Applicants must demonstrate capacity to reach and engage hard-to-reach youth populations and coordinate with other youth-serving systems.
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- SF-424 Supplement (if required by the agency)
- Project narrative describing outreach model, target population, and service delivery plan
- Budget and budget narrative (typically detailed by line item)
- Organizational capacity narrative (staff qualifications, organizational history, financial management)
- Letters of support and memoranda of understanding from partner agencies
- Documentation of community need (local data on youth homelessness, census information)
- Proof of 501(c)(3) status or government agency documentation
- Indirect cost rate agreement (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 Amanda Persad
- 📧 amanda.persad@acf.hhs.gov
- 📞 202) 740-6824
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.557 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$465,000
-
$465,000
-
$465,000
-
$464,951
-
$464,941
-
$464,038
-
$462,635
-
$462,297
-
$460,647
-
$460,567
Top States by Funding
- OR 11 awards $5.0M
- CA 10 awards $4.5M
- WA 6 awards $2.7M
- TX 6 awards $2.7M
- MI 6 awards $2.7M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.557). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $19,106,606 | |
| 2025 | $10,998,369 | |
| 2026 est. | $6,100,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for the Street Outreach Program?
501(c)(3) nonprofits, government agencies (city, state, tribal), and faith-based organizations with demonstrated capacity to conduct youth outreach are typically eligible. Check the full RFP for specific entity type requirements.
What types of services does this grant support?
The program funds street-based outreach, engagement activities, drop-in centers, case management, emergency assistance, and linkages to housing, education, and other services for runaway and homeless youth.
When is the application deadline?
The application portal opened April 28, 2026. Check the official HHS-ACF website for the specific submission deadline, as it was not specified in this summary.
How competitive is this funding?
ACF youth programs are moderately to highly competitive. Applications must demonstrate clear community need data, a strong track record of youth engagement, and sustainable partnerships. Regional variations in funding availability may affect competitiveness.
What is the typical funding range?
ACF street outreach grants typically range from $100,000 to $300,000+ depending on service area and scope, though actual amounts vary by funding cycle and geographic region.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Lead with clear data on local runaway/homeless youth demographics and current service gaps. Funders want to understand the specific problem you're solving and why your community needs this investment.
- Emphasize your organization's existing relationships and credibility with youth populations, including staff with lived experience or cultural competency relevant to your target population.
- Detail your outreach strategy with concrete locations, frequency, staffing plans, and measurable engagement goals. Vague outreach plans are common weaknesses.
- Build strong letters of support from schools, law enforcement, hospitals, housing providers, and other agencies that will refer or collaborate with you. Demonstrate an actual coordination network.
- Create a realistic sustainability plan showing how you'll maintain services after grant funding ends, including leveraged resources, in-kind contributions, and diversified funding sources.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Many applicants underestimate the importance of demonstrating genuine community need with local data (arrest records, shelter counts, school surveys). Weak partnership documentation is another frequent issue—letters of support must show concrete collaboration plans, not just endorsements. Applications that focus too heavily on activities rather than measurable outcomes for youth engagement, retention, and connection to services tend to score poorly.
Similar grants
- OPEN 27-0343-10 FFY27 Local Agency General Non-Enforcement — Illinois Department of Transportation
- ROLLING Annual Agency Threshold Application Applicants for Funding Start Here — Texas City of Austin - Austin Public Health
- CLOSED Virginia’s Black Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Grant – FY26 — Virginia The Virginia Department of Historic Resources
- ROLLING RTAP Grant Program (Rolling) — Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation
- OPEN Special Education 2026-2027 – IDEA B Grants — North Dakota Department of Public Instruction