Youth Homelessness and Rooflessness in Powys

Rob Powell – Homelessness Manager (01597) 827243Chris Price – Homelessness Strategy and Supporting People

Manager (01874) 612404

Overview

• Introductions• Statistics• Key problems• Possible solutions• Conclusions

Homeless decisions (16-17yr olds)

0

20

40

60

80

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2004-05 - 72 decisions 2005-06 - 65 decisions

2006-07 (first 6 mnths) 12 decisions

No. Decisions

Number of 16-17 year olds made homeless due to family

breakdown

0102030405060

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2004-05 - 53 made homeless 2005-06 - 20 made homeless

2006-07 (first 6 mnths) 8 made homeless

Number madehomeless

Statistics

Prevention of HomelessnessIn July 2005 the Council remodelled its Homeless Service to prevent, rather than process

homelessness

• 471 households approached the Council’s front line housing advice service in 2005-06

• 124 (26%) of these were 16-17 year olds being asked to leave the family home

• 93% of cases were prevented from becoming ‘homeless’• Housing Options Advisors offer mediation services between parents

and their children and where possible find alternative accommodation• In 2005-06 the Council spent approx £150,000 on Bed and Breakfast

accommodation. In the first six months of 2006-07 the Council spent £9,330

Statistics (cont.)

Support and rough sleepingOn an annual basis the Council maps need for housing support /

supported housing• Of a total of 587 surveyed with support needs 91 were under 25• 4 of these had ‘nowhere to stay’• In a recent report* into rough sleeping in rural areas, 24% of those

interviewed were under 19, 45% were between 20 and 29• A recent exercise indicated that 50% of Care Leavers in Powys

had experienced homelessness• There are only two designated supported accommodation projects

for young people in Powys comprising of a total of 11 flats*The Stigma of Rural Homelessness in Wales (Wallich Clifford:2006)

Key problemsNational Issues• Affordability• Housing Benefit - Single room rent etc. (87% of HB claimants

under 25 face a shortfall on their rent- averaging £35 per week)*

• Family breakdown• Not all young single people deemed to be in priority need• Homelessness usually not just a ‘housing problem’.• Supporting People funding reduced by 11.5% in April 2005Local Issues• Local needs relatively low, but geographically spread• Very different local housing markets across the County• Services not being publicised enough• Lack of single person accommodation within the social

housing sector• Lack of awareness around the levels of rough sleeping* Roof Magazine (November / December:2006)

Possible Solutions• Development of more single person accommodation within the

social housing sector (with support)• Homelessness service structured to prevent, rather than process,

homelessness • Mediation / Nightstop / Supported Lodgings / Foyers• Supported housing needs to be set up to fully complement the

prevention of homelessness agenda• Voluntary sector has crucial role to play for those not in priority

need• Homelessness services need to be developed on a cross agency

basis – information needs to accessible and clear (leaflets / directory of services etc).

• Consultation with young people, who use local services, needs toshape future service delivery

• Rough Sleeping Count to be undertaken in March 2007

Conclusions• Although the numbers of young people found to be

‘homeless’ is falling, the number of young people in housing need continues to rise

• There are both national and local factors in relation to the problems experienced

• Solutions need to be delivered in a person-centred, cross-agency fashion if we are to effectively tackle the problem

• The levels of rough sleeping need to be further investigated