A new review of youth homelessness in the UK, funded by The OVO Foundation, highlights a number of positive policy and practice developments undertaken since the last major review was completed in 2008.
According to the recently published report, broader socio-economic trends and welfare reforms, however, have been in a direction clearly damaging to the prospects of many young people and these pressures look set to worsen in the coming years.
The report confirms that it’s more important than ever for charitable organisations, working with young people, to develop meaningful support services and effective accommodation options for those at risk of or those young people already experiencing homelessness.
The review identifies a number of areas in which service provision can and should be strengthened and developed:
- Prevention
- Accommodation Options
- Employment
- Social Networks
Reviewing the report, Lee Dribben, CEO with The Ashley Foundation based in Blackpool, Lancashire, said: “Employment remains a major issue impacting upon homelessness in the United Kingdom.”
“There are calls for the better alignment of youth homelessness and youth employment services, to improve the employability and prospects of young people experiencing homelessness,” Dribben explained.
“Supporting young people who experience homelessness to develop positive social networks is seen as an important means to support resettlement and a means of improving young people’s wellbeing, and thereby reducing the risk of repeat homelessness,” Dribben added.
The Ashley Foundation (TAF) is a registered homeless charity, established in 1997 for the purpose of providing accommodation and support to ‘homeless individuals in need’. Committed to treating individuals with dignity and respect, TAF is determined to offer the opportunity and the support necessary to encourage and enable personal growth and self-development. There are many and varied reasons why people become homeless. Relationship breakdown, domestic violence, young people asked to leave home, people with drug and alcohol or mental health issues who are unable to sustain an independent lifestyle and more recently due to recession, where someone might lose their job and are then are unable to pay their mortgage or rent, the list goes on and on. Helping someone to rebuild relationships with family or friends, stay in education, take up employment and training opportunities or deal with their drug and alcohol or mental health problem is as much about tackling homelessness as is securing a roof over their head. For more information visit https://www.theashleyfoundation.org.uk.
