You don’t have to be sleeping on the streets to be homeless. If you’re staying somewhere that you have no legal right to stay, such as a friend’s house or somewhere that is not safe for you, then you are homeless.
Young people’s homelessness is a complex issue and there are many reasons why you may become homeless, so it’s really important that you talk to someone who understands.
What help is there?
You can be found accommodation where it is safe for you to stay in an emergency. You can discuss all of your options with someone who will help find you the most suitable accommodation, and help with any other concerns or questions you have.
Between April 2018 and April 2019, Targeted Youth Support in Hull helped 295 homeless young people to access support for the first time. It also helped young people to access ongoing support on 1,207 occasions.
Targeted Youth Support and Children’s Social Care have people who can talk to you and your parents to see if you can sort things out. If things are not safe, you will not be expected to go home. Other options will be explored for you.
A teenager’s account
Here is the account of one teenager who found herself homeless.
“I had been living in unsuitable accommodation with my dad, a heroin user who had been served notice on his property due to his antisocial behaviour,” said the teenager.
“I was also struggling to cope with the death of my mum and was involved in an ongoing court case where I was the alleged victim of sexual abuse. I was told I was a vulnerable child, at significant risk of becoming homeless and of coming to harm.
“A witness protection service gave me a referral to Targeted Youth Support, who explored accommodation options with me and gave me a support worker. Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and Children’s Social Care helped to get to my appointments.
“I got help with my accommodation in stages – first supported accommodation, then a semi-independent tenancy and then an independent tenancy. I’ve now improved my mental health and wellbeing, completed a course of education and been able to sustain a claim for benefits while I continue to learn.”
