Young Persons Housing Advocacy Project

In Scotland young people between the age of 16-25 account for almost 12% of the overall population, nonetheless they comprise near 25% of all homeless applications, making them the most disproportionately overrepresented group within the homeless community. As homelessness is not simply a housing issue, providing housing alone will not contribute to a healthy transition into adulthood for most young people who are forced to leave their families and homes without skills and support. That is why youth-specific preventative responses should be widely developed and adopted throughout Scotland.

Youth Connection, Alex Stevens CEO, Kay Clark and Lianne Melley consulted with Oaktree Housing Association, Cloch Housing Association and Larkfield Housing Association regarding a collaborative approach to identifying and challenging young people’s housing and poverty issues in Inverclyde and have been carrying out a 12- week awareness raising programme on homelessness and sustaining a tenancy with pupils from St Columba’s High School and young people from Oaktrees Housing Association work programme managed by Robert Dowds. 

With the support from Louise Bacon, Community Links Scotland funds were raised through the Scottish Government’s Communities Recovery Fund (Phase 2). This was awarded to Oak Tree Housing Association who, as a Community Anchor organisation, had a strong understanding of the Covid 19 recovery challenges facing the Inverclyde community and were able to co-ordinate the delivery of the funding with key partners, including Youth Connections.