The Housing Executive report Experiences of Youth Homelessness focuses on young people, aged 16 – 25, with previous and current experience of homelessness. The research aims to

• understand the causes of youth homelessness
• examine prevention initiatives
• consider challenges in delivering services  
• explore strategies from other areas in the UK

The report looks at opportunities to intervene, with 41% of respondents stating more could have been done to stop them becoming homeless.

Different pathways into youth homelessness

Factors that can lead to youth homelessness include

• family conflict
• involvement with social services
• involvement with the justice system
• mental health problems
• addiction
• abuse

The report acknowledges that pathways to homeless can vary across ages and experiences. All respondents agreed that the experience of youth homelessness is overwhelmingly negative.

The report suggests that agencies should consider this cumulative impact when responding to chronic homelessness.

Care experienced young people at risk of homelessness

Going into care at a later stage, multiple placements or being in residential care are factors that increase the risk of homelessness. The report recommends 

• starting to plan for the transition to adulthood earlier
• extending the length of care placements in certain cases
• reviewing the length of the Trust assessment process for 16 and 17 year olds
• reviewing the 28 day homeless assessments timeframe before young person turns 18

Respondents stressed the importance of all young people, care experienced or not, being ‘tenancy ready’. Budgeting, shopping and cooking skills are key factors in sustaining a tenancy. Floating support alongside new tenancies should reflect these needs.

Youth homelessness is a process, not a single event

Most respondents cited family disputes and sharing arrangements breaking down as the main reason for homelessness. But nearly half the respondents had sofa surfed for up to a year before presenting as homeless.

By the time a young person approaches the Housing Executive, it can be very hard to repair relationships with family members. This delay in getting support increases the negative impact felt by young people. The report recommends

• early stage intervention and mediation with family members
• recognising the role of people hosting a young person who is sofa surfing
• increased preventative work with long-term funding

Getting the right fit for temporary accommodation for young people

The report stresses the lack of suitable temporary accommodation for young people, particularly those with complex needs. Many young people worry about going into a hostel with people of mixed ages. Incidents of sexual harassment and pressure to take drugs from other residents were often reported.

However, demand for temporary accommodation for young people increased during the Covid-19 pandemic. This may reflect the breakdown of sharing and sofa surfing arrangements during lockdowns.

Young people in the study liked Foyer style and self-contained accommodation. The report recommends

• reviewing the suitability of temporary accommodation for young homeless people
• not using B&Bs to accommodate young people
• considering temporary accommodation exclusively for young people
• developing crisis accommodation similar to Nightstop

Challenges and opportunities in supporting homeless young people

Respondents pointed out difficulties in addressing youth homelessness including

• a lack of suitable ‘move on’ options and permanent accommodation for young people
• supporting young people with increasingly complex needs
• little time for getting young people tenancy ready

The report recommends:

• increasing the number of specialist young people’s Housing Executive housing advisers
• training on adverse childhood experiences for staff
• reviewing information for young people to ensure

It also highlights good practice that could be sustained and expanded including:

MACS Shared Tenancy Project

Housing First 4 Youth

Going the Extra Mile (GEM) scheme

STAY supported lodgings service

Family Mediation NI - Youth Homelessness Mediation

Housing Rights’ Young Persons Housing Advocacy and Mediation Service