Youth Homelessness in the North East Survey Findings 2017   Adele Irving, Department of Social Sciences, Northumbria University

Research Aims Establish the regional picture of youth homelessness and identify changes over time. Assess this against the national picture. Inform policy and practice

Research Objectives The Extent of Youth Homelessness The Causes of Youth Homelessness Young People’s Support Needs Local Authority Prevention Activities Strategic Responses Support Services Temporary Accommodation Moving On Challenges facing young people and service providers

Methodology Two online surveys Single homeless people, aged 16-24 Local authorities Providers Single homeless people, aged 16-24 February 2017 / Previous 12 months  Responses: 10 LAs, 10 Providers

Extent – A Potential Decrease? 1,386 persons of all ages presented as homeless in Feb 2017 Just 56 (4%) were 16-24. No LAs reported an increase in youth homelessness. 429 young people sought housing advice and support in Feb 2017. More than ¾ of LAs reported a decrease in the number seeking advice and support. 103 being supported by providers In Feb 2017, compared to 224 in Feb 2016. More than half reported a decrease or no change in demand for support .

Young People’s Experiences LA Findings Most common characteristics: being aged 16-17 years old, being a young parent or pregnant young person Less common characteristics: care leavers, having a history of offending Effectiveness of provision? Provider Findings All characteristics common among young service users (33-47%) Identifying as LGBT 24 had slept rough – double Feb 2016

Causes of Homelessness

Parents No Longer Accommodating Young People’s Sexual Orientation Substance misuse Violence/abuse perpetrated by the young person Financial difficulties Overcrowding

Support Needs

Complex Needs Just over a third perceived increases in: the number of young people presenting with complex needs; the complexity of needs . The biggest issue going forward is young people with more and more complex needs that are coming through the care system and will soon be turning 18. Already, a lot of these young people are finding it difficult to maintain placements in residential and foster placements which can mean that they are thrust into supported accommodation, despite not quite being ready for this jump. In addition, supported accommodation providers are under pressure to deal with these increasingly challenging young people and the danger is that they will terminate their accommodation, leaving these vulnerable clients homeless and thrust into inappropriate accommodation which can exasperate their wellbeing in a very negative way’. (LA Respondent)

Support Services Internal service provision has increased or remained unchanged over time More provide health support than previously Key: Food parcels, parenting skills, digital inclusion, social events A less positive picture regarding external provision. Most reported turning young people away – high level needs / high risk

LA Prevention Activity 61 positive actions to prevent youth homelessness 22 cases of successful homelessness relief 8 LAs judged that they had an adequate range of prevention services available in their area Figures suggest that joint working arrangements may be less effective in the region than they were several years ago.

Homelessness Reduction Act Of 21 respondents, just one (5%) was highly optimistic that the HRA would have a positive impact on levels of and the management of homelessness, five (24%) were optimistic, eight (38%) were cautiously optimistic, four (19%) were not optimistic and three (14%) unable to comment. Additional funds Already standard practice Admin/financial burden Funding Cuts Welfare reform

Accommodation Options / Move On Broadly unchanged levels of emergency accommodation Concerns: Insufficient bed spaces; client-risks Increasing use of B&B accommodation Move on to social landlords most common Rent deposit or cashless bond schemes common Widespread confidence in quality of move on accommodation Securing affordable accommodation is difficult

Conclusion A serious – yet perhaps somewhat stable – problem Mix of individual and structural challenges Mental Health Wider roll-out of UC and the proposed removal of the automatic entitlement to Housing Benefit for certain 18 to 21 year olds