Anna WhalenYouth Homelessness Advisor

1. Minimise Demand:

Education work in schools /other places on reality

of housing choices

2. Reduce Demand & Crisis

Early intervention targeted to keep young people in family network

3. Reduce Crisis

Plan & prepare with those at

risk of homelessness BEFORE they are in crisis

4. Single Integrated Service Gateway

Prevention, assessment of need, planning advice

& options

AND access to other services e.g.

ETE & Job Centre Plus

Range of health services

Life skills

Benefits advice

5. Supported accommodation as a starting point for those

with higher needs or younger age (16/17)

6. Floating Support in accommodation - likely to be

shared in private rented sector

8. Young person is ready to make their next move with minimal/no support and is

positively engaged in ETE

Steps 5-7 Young people can access

3 broad options and move between them until they are ready to move on.

7. Shared student style accommodation for those in

FE, employment or apprenticeship with “light

touch” support

The Positive Pathway for young people

A whole systems, strategic approach locally Investment in prevention and integrated support –

its not just about housing Community budget/joint commissioning approach An integrated & seamless front door to options,

advice, planning and assessment of needs Local leadership and champions A belief in young people and their futures Placing young people at the heart of the planning

process

Economic downturn and youth unemployment

Supply of affordable housing

Welfare reform changes

Reductions in public spending – impact on services for young people

Drivers include:Social Justice Strategy – early intervention Preventing homelessness – “Making Every Contact Count” report Challenges may include: Resources to deliverGetting into academies may be harder?Demonstrating impact – making the business case

Opportunities could include: Raising the Participation Age – more access?Young people as peer educators=citizenship

Drivers include :Social Justice Strategy – Early Intervention and Recovery and IndependenceDfE - Improving outcomes - reducing risk of entering care or going down homelessness route Challenges may include:Joint working locally – not always easy!Pressure on resources to deliver preventative family work and youth workOpportunities could include:Linkage with Troubled Families work locallySystems within Children’s Service to identify young people earlier

Drivers include:Ministry of Justice - Resettlement of young offendersDfE and local authorities – Care Leavers Charter – find a homeReducing children in care and homelessnessChallenges may include:Pressure on resources reduces capacity to proactively plan Opportunities could include:Troubled Families work - early identificationRevised local joint protocolsBusiness case for planning V waiting for crisis!

Drivers include:Community budget - joining up of servicesSocial Justice Strategy – Promoting Work and Recovery and IndependenceMaking Every Contact Count – homelessness prevention and reducing children coming into careChallenges may include:Budget pressures and service pressuresLocal context - geography, joint working, practical issues e.g. lack of suitable premisesOpportunities could include:The business case -significant prevention improvements and budget savings May be a need to reconfigure services in light of budget reductions

Drivers include: Social Justice Strategy – Recovery and Independence, Promoting WorkResettlement of young offenders & Care Leavers CharterMaking Every Contact Count & No Second Night Out

Challenges may include: Local decisions to reduce spending on housing related supportSupport to young people with higher needsProvision of support for older young people ( 18 – 24s) where no statutory duty is owedMove on options

Opportunities could include: Re-tendering - outcome focused and potential for new funding modelsJoint commissioning - e.g. looked after and alternatives to remandMixing it up – e.g supported lodgings & Nightstop, leasing smaller units of accommodation and use of floating supportImplementing new approaches – e.g. Psychologically Informed Environment ( PIE)

Drivers include:DCLG Housing Strategy and welfare reform: Best use of social housing stock e.g. under occupation, flexible tenancies allocations policiesUse of the Private Rented Sector to discharge the homelessness duty – Localism ActChallenges may include:Shift in understanding for everyone re: what realistic housing options there are for young people ( i.e. sharing in private rented sector for many) Confidence of landlords to take young peopleGeneral supply of private rented and competition for what is available

Challenges may include: Availability of one-bed social housingGeneral availability of social housing and who should be priority in allocations schemes Opportunities could include:Clear messaging to everyone about options/choice Private rented sector access schemes - landlord incentives for taking under 25sLeasing of PRS and “rent a room” as options for some young peopleJoint tenancies in social housing – new approach

“Care about us”

“Give clear and realistic information”

“Support our transition – its our whole lives not just housing”

“Go the extra mile”

“Actively encourage our aspirations”

Anna.whalen@specialistadvisors.org.uk