Youth Homelessness A Working Definition I understand that Hugh takes: Introduction Why now? Note on homelessness in Europe

A Working Definition of Youth Homelessness in Europe Age range Distinction from ‘adult homelessness’ Diversity of experience Typology of homelessness International & European human rights standards The Feantsa Youth working group has developed a working definition, a guidance note to support the definition, and is in the process of pulling together examples of ‘best practice’ from service provision and policy development.

Working Definition Youth homelessness occurs where an individual between the age of 13 and 26 is experiencing rooflessness or houselessness or is living in insecure or inadequate housing without a parent, family member or other legal guardian.

Process Review of youth homelessness definitions from other jurisdictions Online survey with service providers and experts across Europe Analysis of results and draft definition Feantsa Youth meeting to discuss and refine definition and guidance notes Also collating ‘best practice’ examples Plus some detail about the survey we conducted and the results

Survey Findings Reality v Legislation Perception of ‘youth’ differs between and within countries and services No agreed definition of youth homelessness Common experiences and pathways for young peope Headline findings: Respondents from the survey represent 21 countries in the EU 96 people responded, representing mostly service providers with some responses from local authorities and ministries Significant differences in terms of youngest age a person has presented, more consistency re age a person no longer considered youth Responders provided insight into specific issues being faced by cohorts of young people in their jurisdictions. Reality – many services mentioned that there is legislation and separate systems to deal with people under the age of 16 or 18 becoming homeless, but yet in reality they were often left with the responsibility of supporting these vulnerable young people. In Netherlands some local authorities defined youth homeless as being younger than 27 but services funded by the local authority defined youth as 23.

Age range Needed to be inclusive of different contexts Needed to consider cognitive, emotional and psychological development Different practices in different sectors: youth work, social welfare, housing 8 has also been mentioned, but 13 was most prevalent as the youngest age. Mention youth work definition until 30 here

Distinction from ‘adult homelessness’ Differences in pathways into homelessness Differences in experiences while homeless Differences in exit routes from homelessness

Distinction from ‘adult homelessness’ Things to consider: Young people may have no experience of independence Transitioning to adulthood Social, cognitive, physical, psychological and emotional development Experience of social service failure/fear of authorities Discrimination in existing services/policies

Diversity of experience Age Household disruption and family instability Young people leaving state care Debt Black & minority ethnic Precarious/low paid employment LGBTQ+ Wider social exclusion Drug use Young offenders Mental health Pregnant young women & young people with children in their care Housing supply and discrimination Survival sex Roma youth Family conflict and violence Inaccessiblity of affordable housing Feantsa Youth has expanded on some of these but others require input: Family conflict and violence Household disruption and instability Debt Pathways (sign-posting) – I removed this from the above list as I wasn’t sure how it related to diversity of experience?? Difference experiences with services?

Sustaining exits from homelessness Building supportive networks School, education, training, work Family connections Access to social systems and support Psychological and mental health supports I have suggested to also address this as guidelines to work on a solution, since now in the document it’s a bit in between the several risk factors.

European typology + Human rights Definition is in line the ETHOS typology Youth homelessness as a human rights violation - ICCPR, ICESCR, European Social Charter Youth rights, right now guide I would suggest not to elaborate on this too much, since it’s quite straightforward. Human rights was a starting point for this work – young people experience homelessness as a result of a series of infringements of their human rights – right to housing, education, employment, healthcare & non-discrimination. Infringement of rights is a cause of homelessness, but their continued violation prolongs a young person’s experience of homelessess.