Home and a Job Durham County Hall 28

Home and a Job Durham County Hall 28 th October 2013

Youth Homeless North East We are an independent, action driven community of young people, strategists, commissioners and providers of youth homeless services. Our Vision: To prevent, tackle and resolve homelessness experienced by young people aged 16 – 25 years old in the North East of England. Our Aims are to: • Provide a voice for young people • Influence policy and strategy • Promote innovation and best practice • Bring about change to end youth homelessness • Lobbying and campaigning to bring about change

Today Morning: Aims: • To provide an overview of housing, support, welfare reform and employment • To give young people the opportunity to discuss the issues they face with decision makers • To use what we learn to inform strategy and services • Money • Employment 11. 40 Break • Housing • Support 12. 55 Lunch Afternoon: • Discussion activity • Improving outcomes for young people 14. 50 Next steps & close

HUMAN BINGO • Move around the room asking different people the questions on your bingo sheet • Write their name in the square if the answer is true for them. • Names can only be used once. • The winner is the first person to get a full line and to shout ‘Bingo’. • Only one name per square!!

Welfare Reform Claire

Youth Educator Project Centrepoint, Miners Hall, Redhills, Durham, DH 1 4 BD • 0845 466 3400 • www. centrepoint. org. uk

Youth Educators • Centrepoint service users in the NE biggest source of income is DWP benefits Centrepoint, Miners Hall, Redhills, Durham, DH 1 4 BD • 0845 466 3400 • www. centrepoint. org. uk

Youth Educators • Quarter of young people in CP accommodation services have no access to a bank account or the internet Centrepoint, Miners Hall, Redhills, Durham, DH 1 4 BD • 0845 466 3400 • www. centrepoint. org. uk

Youth Educators • 42% of young people in CP accommodation services in the North East are not aware of the impact of Welfare Reform Centrepoint, Miners Hall, Redhills, Durham, DH 1 4 BD • 0845 466 3400 • www. centrepoint. org. uk

Impact for Young people • 34% are worried that this will affect their ability to effectively budget their money • 17% feel this will lead to an increase in Debt and Crime Centrepoint, Miners Hall, Redhills, Durham, DH 1 4 BD • 0845 466 3400 • www. centrepoint. org. uk

Impact for young people • 66% of our young people see the changes will impact on their ability to move on from supported accommodation Centrepoint, Miners Hall, Redhills, Durham, DH 1 4 BD • 0845 466 3400 • www. centrepoint. org. uk

• The biggest cause of debt amongst CP young people is rent arrears • 82% of young people across CP nationally are in debt owing £ 1000 on average Centrepoint, Miners Hall, Redhills, Durham, DH 1 4 BD • 0845 466 3400 • www. centrepoint. org. uk

Employment Neil Burke Regional Development Officer Regional Youth Work Unit

Comfort break

Home and a Job: Housing and support options for young people in the North East October 2013 Sheila Spencer Co-ordinator, North East Regional Homelessness Group

The current context – what’s changing for the worse Around 80, 000 young people affected by homelessness in the UK each year Welfare benefit changes – and more to come Changes in housing policy, notably allocations policies and discharge into private rented sector SP cuts - reductions in availability of supported housing and floating support Lack of jobs

The current context – what’s changing for the better A few Youth Housing Strategies Greater success of homelessness prevention initiatives and schemes Better targeted housing support for young people Initiatives for increasing housing options Positive Pathway – minimising risk of homelessness, successful transition to independence Young people telling us what is needed and developing their own options Can we help young people to get into ordinary housing, without having to be homeless first?

“Young people are increasingly squeezed out of the housing market and face a more drawnout process of moving towards independent living. ” Joseph Rowntree Foundation paper: Improving housing outcomes for young people, 2011

Ordinary housing – social housing In the NE, young people can get into social housing without being homeless in most areas but… Some Housing Associations only house under-18 s in exceptional cases, often need guarantor References can be difficult for new applicants Concern that rents are out of reach for young people on low incomes Local lettings policies may restrict areas of housing available Increasing use of lettings policies that give preference to people in work or doing voluntary work Long waiting lists for 1 -bedroomed places Sharing now an option in social housing providers

Ordinary housing – private rented sector “Young people, particularly young people on benefits, tend to be viewed as one of the least desirable groups” Can get hold of private rented properties Increasing competition with students (in cities) Will need references Vetting by landlords / lettings agents Possible gap between rent and Local Housing Allowance (HB) levels Shared Accommodation Rate for under-35 s Rent deposit / cashless bond guarantee schemes important – help to afford to rent and to negotiate Local Lettings Agencies Voluntary sector buying own stock Empty homes options

Ordinary housing – owning a home Average house price Northern England: £ 143, 397 Would need income of £ 22, 000 a year for a mortgage for a Co Durham flat £ 87, 250 Help to get a mortgage for first time buyers Parents as part-owners / guarantors / lenders New options such as rent-to-purchase, buying increasing share in a home, helping people leaving supported housing to save for a deposit Other options: co-ownership, co-ops, buying jointly, self-build

Supported housing for under-25 s, emergency, second stage or both in most areas - but decreasing supply Small increase in provision of supported lodging, Nightstop and longer term stays with host families, less use of B&B for under -18 s A few foyers But blockages for people needing to move on into independence New contracts in many areas – better schemes?

Other options? Caravans – not good in NE weather! Friends / relatives Sofa surfing / B&Bs / Houses in Multiple Occupation Homeshare – supporting an older / disabled person in return for a home

Conclusions Changes in the North East a mixed picture for young people To some extent, easier for under 18 s than 18 -25 s We need to develop more options so that young people do not need to become homeless to get somewhere to live Use the ideas we are hearing from young people themselves

Housing Options Youth Voice

Support

Lunch!

Discussion – World cafe • On the flip charts next to each table is a question • Please move to a table and discuss the question, capturing the conversation on the table • The facilitator remains at the table – everyone else moves to another table after 5 minutes • The facilitator shares briefly the key points from the previous groups discussion, the new group then add to it again using the tablecloth • Move around twice more after periods of 5 minutes until you have completed each question. • The facilitator will feedback to everyone 3 key themes that have emerged

The NHAS Specialist Support on Housing Advice

The National Homelessness Advice Service • Partnership project between Shelter and Citizens Advice, since 1990 • Funded by Department of Communities and Local Government • FREE membership FREE services • 2 nd tier specialist support on housing advice

Improving Outcomes for Young People r. org. uk A comprehensive online resource for all professionals working with young people

youngpeopleoutcomes. shelter. org. uk ‘Improving Outcomes for Young People’ is a comprehensive online resource for all professionals working with young people, both housing specialists and non-housing specialists. Developed by Shelter and NHAS, the website provides information on housing options for 16– 25 year olds along with Pathway models to help young people avoid homelessness. Areas covered include:

youngpeopleoutcomes. shelter. org. uk • • • Housing services from local authorities Emergency housing options Tenancy rights Benefits and money Education and employment Family and health

NATIONAL CITIZEN SERVICE

NATIONAL CITIZEN SERVICE WHAT IS NCS? • NCS is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity open to all 16 & 17 year olds in England that helps you build your skills for work and life, while you take on new challenges and meet new friends.

NATIONAL CITIZEN SERVICE • www. NCSyes. co. uk • www. facebook. com/NCS

Youth. Net's online guide to life for young people aged 16 -25. www. youthnet. org www. thesite. org

The National Homelessness Advice Service Second tier specialist to; • all 324 Local Authorities in England • all CABx in England • around 140 other local advice agencies • 10 national organisations

10 national organisations Ø Action for Blind People Ø Addaction Ø Age UK Ø Freedom from Torture Ø Gingerbread Ø National Debtline Ø Royal British Legion Ø Refugee Action Ø Refugee Council Ø RNIB

Members have FREE access to all NHAS services including: • telephone consultancy to give on the spot support when providing housing advice • mortgage debt advice consultancy and case work referral service • training on a range of housing subjects • Monthly ebulletin updates and information on legislation and policy • resources to support and promote best practice

NHAS contacts Anne Limbert Advice - Agency Practitioner Anne_Limbert@shelter. org. uk Maureen Smyth Maureen_Smyth@shelter. org. uk www. nhas. org. uk

Next steps … • Home & a Job Project • Positive Images Media Project • The Youth Housing Charter • YHNE Conference, 30 th January, 2014

• Kieran Platts k. platts@centrepoint. org • Sharon Brown sh. brown@centrepoint. org • Website: www. youthhomelessnortheast. org. uk • Twitter: @Youth. Homeless. NE