SHP will now be delivering two innovative young people’s services, which aim to reduce youth homelessness, in Waltham Forest and Newham.

Family breakdown is the leading cause of homelessness among young people. Many of the young people we work with have been asked to leave home by their parents, often because of an irretrievable breakdown in the relationship. Nearly half of homeless young people become homeless for this reason.

Early intervention

Newham Young People’s Mediation Service, based within Newham’s Housing Needs Service, will support 120 young people a year to remain in the family home safely. Working closely with young people and their families, SHP will help families to reconnect and work through issues and problems.

Early intervention is key to preventing homelessness. By working with young people and their families at an early stage, we will seek to resolve tensions and disputes before the relationship breaks down and the young person is asked to leave the family home.

Supporting Young people from across London

Our new scheme based in Waltham Forest, North Birkbeck Road, is the first service of its kind to be run by SHP. This new semi independent provision is funded by individual placements and will accept referrals from across the whole of London. This is different from SHP’s usual supported housing model, where residents have to have a connection with the borough.

The project will provide a safe and secure environment - a sense of 'home' - for young people, to bring stability to their’ lives. Instead of focusing on tenancy management, the service will provide holistic support for looked after young people and those leaving care.

Yinka Oluyemi, SHP’s Regional Service Manager for North & East London Young People's Services, said: “Extending our service across London will enable us to work with more vulnerable young people across the capital. We know that family breakdown is one of the leading causes of youth homelessness, and each of these two services will allow us to address the problem – helping young people to either remain in the family home, or preparing them for transitioning into the next stage of  their lives.”

Find out more about our work with young people.