Homelessness prevention by Action for Children

Youth housing options

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The context

National statistics tell us young people (16-24) are over-represented in the homelessness system in Scotland, constituting an eighth of the population against a quarter of all homelessness applications. This gives an average rate of 12.7 young people homeless for every 1,000 residents in a local authority. But that statistic hides substantial differences by area: a youth homelessness rate of 3.4 in Inverclyde, against 26.7 in neighbouring West Dunbartonshire – the highest in the country. This context galvanised Action for Children (AfC) to formulate a three-year ‘test of change’ funded by the National Lottery Community, in partnership with West Dunbartonshire Council.

The intervention

The test of change has been co-produced by ‘experts by experience’: young people who’ve used options services, some of whom sit on the project’s governance group. In year one, the focus was understanding young people’s challenges, goals and experiences, and using evidence to target planned interventions. In year two, AfC began engaging with schools, initially Clydebank High. AfC presented awareness raising sessions in assemblies and began one to-one drop-ins for pupils referred by teachers or pastoral care, where a possible risk within their housing situation had been identified. This work indicated both professionals and parents often had low awareness of the realities of local housing and homelessness systems.

Acting on feedback that young people were often reluctant to approach the Council’s housing options team due to the formal and sometimes intimidating setting, AfC worked with the authority to set up a distinct youth options service. People up to age 25 with a housing issue can self-refer to AfC (instead of the Council) for support; they can also be referred into the service. It is intended that in time, AfC will be responsible for the majority of youth ‘PREVENT’ cases. AfC workers ‘look at everything’: including family (offering a whole family approach where appropriate), relationships, independent living skills, work and health. As young people also highlighted the challenge of re-telling their ‘story’ to different staff within services, it was agreed AfC can continue to support a young person if they move to a settled home, offering continuity.

In the research phase, young people identified isolation, leading to poor door control; offers of housing in unwanted areas; and lack of support as key reasons for tenancies failing. Partners responded by teaming up with Simon Community Scotland’s (SCS) shared living service to pilot a supported pathway into shared social tenancies in Clydebank, available as either a preventative or rehousing option. AfC has also strengthened links with the rent deposit service - as renting privately can bring additional choice in area and house type for young people. 

The outcome

AfC has supported 156 young people since March 2020. Just 17% have gone onto make a statutory homelessness application. Just under a third (31%) stayed in their original home, receiving holistic support from AfC - support that wouldn’t have routinely been offered when a young person didn’t need temporary accommodation in the past. 27% of young people moved to settled homes, whilst the rest continue to work with AfC on options.

Those securing a settled home moved onto a range of options: 5% a shared tenancy, 7% a private let, 13% a social tenancy and 2% a long-term solution with family. The sharing option has attracted lots of interest from young people, with the SCS pilot recently extended to Alexandria and Dumbarton

Key insights

• co-production with ‘experts by experience’ is key to guiding the direction of change, giving insight into diverse reasons for homelessness, the importance of ensuring a range of options, and what young people need to make decisions
• housing outreach in schools has challenged professionals working in and around education – after awareness-raising pupils coming forward with housing issues aren’t always ‘typical’ of who they might expect
• sharing can work: whilst not initially keen to trial shared tenancies, the Council stepped up with good quality two-bed homes in areas popular with young people, significantly improving their housing choices

Find out more…

Laura Haining, Practice Team Leader, Action for Children
laura.haining@actionforchildren.org.uk