A National Centre of Excellence to help housing associations prevent and tackle youth homelessness is to be funded by the Housing Corporation.
The centre will be run by Housing Corporation Gold Award Winners St Basils and is being funded through the Corporation's Innovation and Good Practice Grant. It will support local agencies around the country to address the accommodation and wider needs of young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
The centre will offer:
Housing associations will be able to access this service via Communities and Local Government's National Youth Homelessness Scheme's website at www.communities.gov.uk/youthhomelessness.
Steve Douglas, Housing Corporation Chief Executive said:
"Most young people do well in education, make a successful transition to adult life and go on to have rewarding careers and family life. But unfortunately not all young people are this fortunate and many experience problems in their teenage years.
"The number of young people aged 16-17 seeking housing assistance from local authorities in England, because they are homeless or at risk of being homeless a real issue. We know how important a place to call home can be in helping young people make the most of their abilities and be successful.
"That is why the Corporation is committed to the National Youth Homelessness Scheme and is funding this new national Centre of Excellence."
Jean Templeton, Chief Executive, St Basils said:
"We are very keen to share and exchange learning with others who are keen to prevent youth homelessness. Young people from St Basils will be part of this process which started with our recent Youth-led conference in Birmingham. Feedback from delegates confirmed that young people's experience and advice is really valuable in helping them to improve and develop their services, so we are particularly keen to facilitate young people's involvement in the national youth homelessness scheme."
St Basils won the Housing Corporation Gold Award in 2006 for their outstanding work with young people aged 16-25 in helping them to help them find and keep a homes, to develop their confidence, skills and opportunities and to prevent homelessness.
