Helping families stay housed at the right moment.
YCAN works with landlords and vendors to deliver one targeted payment at a critical moment — keeping a household stable when a short-term crisis would otherwise pull them under.
Rescue at the right moment — not a permanent lifeline.
Think of a river. Most of our work is rescue equipment at the bank — deployed once, at the moment someone goes under, to pull them back to stable ground. One payment. One crisis addressed. The household moves forward.
For people in recovery, we work differently — more like a rope on the cliff before they fall in. Someone coming out of treatment or jail often has nothing to return to. A month of temporary housing creates the foothold they need — time to secure employment or income, connect to services, and build toward something permanent.
From there the recovery program walks alongside them. Most graduates are followed for three years. Most never return to crisis — not because they got lucky, but because stable housing, income, and sustained recovery support changed the conditions of their life. That is the whole point.
What we don't do is keep deploying the same rescue equipment to the same spot year after year. If a household needs ongoing rent support, that belongs with housing subsidies or income programs designed for that purpose. YCAN's role is to help people build to the point where they no longer need us.
We track whether it worked.
YCAN is accountable to the funds we administer and to the households we serve. Outcome tracking is built into our program — measuring whether assistance actually produced stability, and whether households stayed housed. That data drives how we plan future programs and demonstrate responsible stewardship to our funders and the community.
What good outcomes look like
A successful intervention means the household remained housed, stabilized their situation, and moved toward self-sufficiency — without needing to return for the same type of assistance. For recovery households, it means staying connected to treatment, securing income, and building toward independence over time.
Most people who receive well-timed, well-matched assistance do not return to crisis. That is the goal — and it is why we are careful about who we serve, when we serve them, and how we measure results.
What this program is — and who it is for.
YCAN's assistance is designed for households actively working toward self-sufficiency — not as a substitute for that work.
Bills are the client's responsibility
Signing a lease or establishing a utility account creates a legal obligation between the client and the landlord or utility provider — not between that provider and YCAN. YCAN is not obligated to pay anyone's bills. Assistance is not an entitlement.
When assistance is approved, it is because a household met eligibility requirements, a case manager determined the referral was appropriate, and funding was available. None of those conditions can be assumed or demanded.
Case managers cannot be compelled to refer
A referring case manager exercises professional judgment in deciding whether a YCAN referral is appropriate. A client cannot compel a case manager to submit a referral, and a landlord cannot initiate one. The referral decision belongs entirely to the case manager and their agency.
If a client disagrees with a case manager's decision not to refer, that concern should be addressed through the case manager's agency — not through YCAN.
This program is for households moving forward
Assistance is designed for households actively engaged in case management, budgeting, employment, recovery, or another path toward self-sufficiency. It is not designed for repeated or ongoing financial support.
Households that return for additional assistance will need to demonstrate meaningful progress — income subsidies secured, workforce services engaged, or other steps taken. Repeated assistance without movement toward self-sufficiency is not consistent with the purpose of this program.
We appreciate you — and we want to make this easy.
Landlords have taken a hard hit since COVID. The eviction moratorium left many property owners carrying months of unpaid rent with no recourse — and many responded by converting to short-term rentals just to survive. The ones who stayed in long-term rental housing are keeping working families housed in communities where affordable rentals are increasingly hard to find. YCAN recognizes that and we mean it when we say we value the partnership.
When YCAN contacts you about a tenant, it is because a case manager has already done the work of identifying a household in genuine crisis and determining that a targeted payment can make a real difference. We are not asking you to do anything other than verify the amount owed and provide your payment information. The rest is on us.
What YCAN's payment is
A single payment covering a defined rental or service period — made directly to you on behalf of an eligible household. It is intended to address a documented, short-term crisis and help a family stay housed through it.
For recovery-related requests, it may cover a longer defined period — such as 90 days while someone is in treatment — but it is still tied to a specific purpose and timeframe, not an open-ended commitment.
What it is not
It is not a contract. It does not modify your lease, restrict your rights as a landlord, or create any ongoing obligation between YCAN and you. What happens after the covered period is entirely between you and your tenant under your existing lease and Wyoming law.
You retain all legal rights — including the right to pursue eviction for any reason permitted by your lease and applicable law. Accepting this payment does not change that.
Why we ask for a W-9 — even for smaller payments
Federal law requires The Align Team to report rental assistance payments to the IRS and issue a 1099 for any landlord or vendor who receives $600 or more in a calendar year. To do that accurately, Align needs a current signed W-9 on file for every payee — regardless of the payment amount.
We ask for the W-9 upfront for every payment request in the interest of accuracy, transparency, and making sure your tax information is correct at year-end. If you receive multiple payments across the year, having your W-9 on file from the start prevents delays and errors later.
The W-9 you provide goes to The Align Team only — it is used exclusively for payment processing and IRS reporting. It is not shared further.
The process from referral to payment.
Referral comes first
A community partner or case manager submits a referral electronically on the household's behalf. Electronic submission creates a timestamped official record. YCAN determines eligibility only after a complete referral packet is received and confirmed.
Only after eligibility is confirmed will YCAN contact you to request payment information. Landlords and tenants cannot initiate this process directly.
If no electronic submission exists in YCAN's system, no referral has been made — regardless of what a tenant or case manager may have communicated informally. A conversation, an email, or a verbal promise from another agency does not constitute a referral to YCAN.
Payments issued through Align
YCAN works with The Align Team as its fiscal processor. Align initiates payments on YCAN's behalf directly to you by check or ACH. This separation is a required internal control for compliance and accountability.
Documents required
A current signed W-9 and a balance ledger, invoice, or written statement showing the amount owed, the period it covers, and the tenant's name and unit are required before payment can be processed. If there is no signed lease, a written statement serves as documentation.
Payment timing
Processing takes up to 14 business days from receipt of all required documents. ACH direct deposit is faster than a mailed check. If you prefer ACH, let YCAN know when you receive your approval email — The Align Team will send you the authorization form directly. Mailed checks may take an additional 1–2 weeks to arrive.
Utility companies do not need to complete a vendor form. YCAN already has payment information on file for most utility providers.
Ready to submit your information?
Landlords and vendors receive a direct link by email from YCAN after a payment is approved. Use that link — do not use this page to initiate a payment request.
Landlords
If your tenant has been determined eligible, you will receive a direct link to the landlord payment request form by email from YCAN. The email will include the Household ID, assistance type, and period covered. Did not receive your link? Use the support request button below.
Other vendors
Childcare providers, transportation providers, healthcare providers, and other approved vendors receive a direct link by email from YCAN once a payment has been approved. Did not receive your link? Use the support request button below.
Landlord questions answered.
Does accepting this payment affect my right to evict?
No. YCAN's payment covers a specific rental period only. It does not create a contract, modify your lease, or restrict your rights as a landlord in any way. You retain all legal rights under Wyoming law, including the right to pursue eviction for any reason permitted by your lease and applicable law.
Am I obligated to keep the tenant housed after the payment period?
No. YCAN's payment covers only the specific period stated in the payment request. What happens after that period is entirely between you and your tenant under your existing lease. YCAN has no ongoing role in the tenancy after payment is issued.
Is this a contract between YCAN and me?
No. Accepting payment from YCAN is not a contract and does not create an ongoing relationship or any obligations beyond the specific payment made. YCAN is paying rent on behalf of an eligible tenant for a defined period — nothing more.
What if the amount I am owed is different from what was reported?
YCAN approves assistance based on what was reported at the time of referral. If the amount you submit is significantly different, the payment may not be approved or may require additional review. Please submit your actual balance ledger or invoice — do not adjust amounts to match what you think was reported.
What if YCAN's payment is not enough to prevent eviction?
If the approved amount is not sufficient to bring the account current and prevent eviction, the payment may not meet the program purpose and may not be approved. Please communicate this to YCAN before submitting your payment request so we can determine whether approval is appropriate.
What if there is no lease?
Month-to-month arrangements without a formal lease are common and not a barrier to payment. If there is no signed lease, please upload a current invoice, ledger, or written statement showing the tenant's name, unit address, monthly rent amount, and the balance owed.
What if the tenant owes more than YCAN is paying?
YCAN's payment covers only the approved amount for the specific period requested. Any additional amounts owed by the tenant remain the tenant's responsibility under your lease. YCAN is not responsible for any balance beyond the approved payment amount.
Can I apply on behalf of my tenant?
No. Referrals are made by community partner agencies and case managers only. If your tenant needs assistance, direct them to resources in their county to connect with a local case manager.
Payment questions?
For questions about a landlord or vendor payment, use the support request form. Please have your Household ID ready — it was provided in the email from YCAN about your approved payment.
For questions about a referral or client eligibility, contact the referring case manager or community partner directly.