THE HIDDEN HOMELESS
Story By SUE CAMPBELL
People become homeless for all sorts of different reasons. Social causes - lack of affordable housing, poverty and unemployment and a host of life events can push people onto the streets.
According to the homeless charity Crisis, life events like a relationship breaking down, mental or physical health problems or substance misuse put people under strain.
And many become homeless simply because they can no longer afford the rent.
Research from Shelter shows at least 309,000 people in England spent Christmas without a home last December - a stark increase of 14% or 38,100 people in a year.
But what is sometimes hidden in the headlines are the numbers of young people who become homeless. Almost 136,000 young people aged 16-24 were homeless or at risk in the UK in 2022/23 according to the charity, Action for Children.
There are of course many organisations across the country dealing with youth homelessness. One of them is Tees Valley YMCA, based in Darlington, who looks after homeless young people between 16 and 25.
The reasons they become homeless can be complex and difficult. Ray was referred to the YMCA shortly before his 17th birthday - the third sibling from the same family to be referred.
He had a turbulent childhood and no contact with his parents. Vulnerable and financially exploited by people he perceived to be his friends during his support, it became apparent that he was on the Autistic Spectrum.
“almost 136,000 young people aged 16-24 were homeless, or at risk, in the uk in 2022/23 according to action for children”
Ray struggled to contain his emotions and would frequently lose his temper, damaging his property and himself. It was decided that Ray needed to live in supported accommodation - the best outcome for Ray, who otherwise might have found himself on the streets.
Dion had been referred as he was no longer able to live in the family home. He has severe mental health issues, many as a result of meningitis aged 18 and was diagnosed with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder.
He would prolifically self-harm, which led to him to being admitted to the local mental health hospital where he was an inpatient for four weeks.
Although he could not live in the family home, he had a good family support network and initially his family managed his finances, one of the areas that he struggled with. He is currently being assessed to establish the level of support he will need longer term to enable him to move on successfully.
Keith was referred for accommodation shortly after his 17th birthday. He had been living at home but was being subjected to homophobic abuse from his step-dad.
He has been supported by the YMCA into full-time education and gained a Duke of Edinburgh Scheme Bronze Award. Keith has been a volunteer mentor for the National Citizen Service and has been a positive ambassador for the YMCA.
He has now completed a package of support and has been given an introductory tenancy in a Local Authority property.
Janine Browne is CEO of Tees Valley YMCA. Although under the national YMCA umbrella, it’s an individual charity, and Janine spends a lot of time applying for funding from as many sources as possible.
Young people are mostly referred from the Local Authority and will also include unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in care. Darlington currently has 26 young homeless people and a baby in their accommodation units. But they could have many more and the organisation is seeking to increase its number of flats.
“Keith had been living at home but was subjected to homophobic abuse from his step-dad”
Janine said: “Much of youth homelessness is masked by the way society treats them. There are lots of hidden homeless young people who may be sofa surfing with nowhere permanent to live.
“It is the Local Authority’s responsibility to house the homeless and we get some funding for commissioned services. Giving young people a safe place is the priority, so that we can give them the support at the grass roots level and enable them to live independently.”
The Tees Valley YMCA Housing Support Manager is Lynn Lambert, who leads a team of support workers.
She says relationships breaking down at home are a key reason a young person
could find themselves without a place to call home - especially likely if there is conflict between a young person and their parents or step-parents.
Often, a combination of factors is involved, with things escalating until the young person feels they can no longer stay, or is kicked out.
Lynn said: “Many people think of homelessness as people sleeping rough in doorways, but it is much more complex than that.
“They come from so many different backgrounds, with so many reasons – sexuality, pushing the boundaries, timekeeping, unstable family life, a change of dynamic in the household.
“When they are living in the YMCA accommodation support staff inspect their flats.
“But there can be very different values when it comes to tidiness or organisation. Some think that just making a pathway from the bed to the door through a mountain of clothes is tidy. And it may well be for them. Living in a chaotic world may be all they know.”
Youth homelessness is higher in the North East than anywhere else in England, government figures suggest.
“relationships breaking down at home are a key reason a young person could find themselves without a place to call home”
Almost one in five individuals who applied for, and were due, homeless support from their local council in the North East last year were aged 18-24 - at least 3,300 young people.
Tees Valley YMCA is doing its utmost to bring what is often the hidden homeless into a safe and positive space.
Janine added: “A safe place with four walls is our priority. The majority will never go home again. So we’re helping them by stabilising and supporting them into the world of independent living.”
Charities across the youth homelessness sector are calling on the Government to develop a national cross-departmental youth homelessness strategy following growing concerns about numbers of young people experiencing homelessness - and the capacity of Local Authorities to support them.
But as the crisis deepens and budgets are cut, the support provided by organisations like Tees Valley YMCA is a lifeline for many.
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