Singing Loud to Prevent Youth Homelessness

Posted: 10 December 2021 1:47 pm.

Dave Smith – Chief Executive, Stepping Stone Projects

As we enter the festive period most of us are looking forward to a warm, safe and over-indulgent Christmas with our loved ones.

It is easy to forget that for people facing homelessness, a content “Driving Home for Christmas” feeling is just not possible. This Christmas, CentrePoint estimates homelessness amongst young people aged 18-24 will hit a five year high of 29,000. This is partly due to Covid-19, as young people struggle to cope with increased unemployment and low wages and lower Universal Credit, coupled with worries caused by the high current cost of living and the end of the eviction ban.

It might be assumed that a young person facing life on the streets can and should simply return to their family home. However, for many this is not an option.

Care leavers, those facing abuse, violence and/or exploitation or those irreconcilably estranged from their families cannot return. Many may also have serious mental health issues or complex needs. As for unaccompanied child asylum seekers and refugees, they have no one to call family and no safe home to return to.

These are the young people that often end up sofa surfing, or worse still, on the streets. Where they face even greater risks of abuse or sexual exploitation, and may fall victim to alcohol, substance abuse or crime.

In years to come, we will pay far more as a society picking up the pieces of short-term political choices.

The answer to youth homelessness surely lies in preventing homelessness in the first place. Stepping Stone have a simple 8-point plan to do this, including solutions that won’t cost the exchequer a penny.

Solutions at no-cost to the public purse

1. Increase national minimum wage levels for the under 22s. Why should a 16-17 year-old earn half (£4.81 per hour), or a 20 year old two-thirds (£6.83 per hour), as someone over 22 (£9.50 per hour) doing the same job? Without evidence to show it would actively discourage employment of young adults, it would lead to better and fairer employment terms, while increasing their chances to afford somewhere to live.

2. Improve tenure security and eviction protection. We should do all we can to help tenants sustain their tenancy to avoid them ending up on the streets.

3. Give more young people priority on council waiting lists. This will reduce youth homelessness - and all at no extra cost to councils. Nearly all young homeless people only qualify for lower demand, higher turnover bedsit and one-bedroom properties, meaning families will not miss out on larger homes.

Low-cost solutions

4. Give the homeless under-25s the same statutory homeless rights as other homeless vulnerable people. This would include access to temporary accommodation to directly reduce the problem.
5. Improve advice and support. Improving and increasing services to provide young people with advice on budgeting, work and training will further decrease the risk of homelessness in the future.

Affordable solutions

6. Make welfare benefits the same. By eliminating the difference in welfare benefits for under 25s, it would end the welfare discrimination young people currently face and increase their chances of finding or retaining accommodation.

7. Increase the Housing Benefit Local Housing Allowances for the under 35s. For the same reasons, increasing the Housing Benefit Local Housing Allowances for the under 35s to the same levels as the over 35s would increase tenants’ chances to sustain their tenancy.

8. Increase the supply of supported housing. Supported housing gives young people a roof over their head while they gain the skills to manage a home and live independently.

All of these measures will help prevent youth homelessness and to ensure when they are asked “Do They Know It’s Christmas” they will answer with a resounding “I wish it could be Christmas Every Day”.

Go back