Preventing Youth Homelessness

Experience has shown that most young people living alone for the first time become overwhelmed by the responsibility of having a tenancy. The younger they are the more evident this is. Therefore at our first meeting with young people we ask them to consider whether it is possible to remain at home.

Young people who are taken onto our waiting list are asked to attend a Pre-tenancy Workshop. This helps them to prepare for living alone by learning about budgeting, bills, tenancy agreements, personal safety as well as Doorway services.

The expanded Leaving Home & Housing Education Programme in schools ensures that the prevention agenda starts at an early stage within the school environment. As well as getting young people to explore the issues related to leaving home, it brings to their attention the services that might be available should they be threatened with homelessness. This programme gives us the opportunity to work with young people under the age of 16 who are having difficulties at home.

We find that some young people return home after a 'cooling off’ period. As Doorway does not have any emergency accommodation we are currently seeking funding to enable us to have a 'crash pad’. This will give young people a place to stay for a couple of nights in an emergency whilst trying to help them resolve their situation.