{"id":6959,"date":"2024-06-27T16:11:37","date_gmt":"2024-06-27T15:11:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.depaul.org.uk\/?post_type=blog&p=6959"},"modified":"2024-06-27T16:12:09","modified_gmt":"2024-06-27T15:12:09","slug":"why-prevention-is-the-key-to-tackling-youth-homelessness","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.depaul.org.uk\/blog\/why-prevention-is-the-key-to-tackling-youth-homelessness\/","title":{"rendered":"Why prevention is the key to tackling youth homelessness"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Laura Munt, Director of Prevention and Programmes at Depaul UK\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

A huge amount of resource goes into tackling homelessness at the point of crisis. Last year, 136,000 young people presented at their local council because they had nowhere to sleep that night or were about to be made homeless. That\u2019s <\/span>the equivalent of one in every 52 young people in the UK. <\/span>We know that emergency responses cost much more than preventative ones, so why don\u2019t we invest more in prevention of homelessness? <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Family breakdown is the biggest cause of homelessness for the young people we see in our services, and last year it accounted for 63 percent of referrals to our emergency accommodation service, Nightstop<\/a>. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are all kinds of reasons why families struggle to live together. Much of it is down to how families communicate with one another and how accepting they are of differences. We see a high number of young people who cite their sexuality, disability or a mental health problem as a reason for their homelessness. We also see young people who have suffered abuse, exploitation and neglect.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Financial strain can exacerbate these issues at home. Families who struggle to make ends meet are facing additional pressures due to the high cost of living. These financial burdens can escalate existing tensions within families, contributing to homelessness among young people.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Unstable housing situations can hinder young people’s ability to secure education and employment opportunities, perpetuating cycles of poverty and disadvantage. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At Depaul UK, we take a preventative and holistic approach that recognises the complexity of the issue and strives to tackle it before it starts, or for those already affected, prevents it from happening again.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n