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The issue

What is homelessness?

80,000 young people experience homelessness in a year in the UK

Homeless people are not just people that sleep on the streets. Although many of the young people that Centrepoint works with have slept rough in the past, most have been homeless in other ways. For example, they might have been:

  • In temporary hostel or bed and breakfast accommodation
  • 'Sofa surfing' (staying temporarily with lots of different people)
  • In unsuitable or unsafe accommodation

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Download a summary of the research report 'Youth homelessness in the UK'

Why young people become homeless

Homelessness is not just a housing problem. Family breakdown, complex support needs, deprivation, crime, exclusion from school, transitions from care and becoming a refugee are just some of the reasons why young people become homeless.
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Effects of homelessness

Homelessness has a serious impact on both the young people affected and wider society. Young people describe their lives as being 'on hold' while they are homeless, making it much harder for them to achieve their goals and ensure their own well-being.
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Public policy

An important part of the work that Centrepoint does is with national and local government to improve services for all homeless young people. We are working closely with the government to ensure that homeless young people do not lose out as a result of reforms.
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Pressure from Centrepoint and other organisations led to the Government dropping plans to cut housing benefit by 10% for anyone unemployed for more than 12 months.

 

  • Why I needed Centrepoint

    By Grace

    Grace's father had a very different holiday in mind. He had agreed with his brother and step-brother that they could sexually abuse her. It was six weeks of hell. Soon after her return home, Grace's grandmother died. She was told that she had to move out, so Grace started to stay at friends' houses

    Read full story

  • Why I needed Centrepoint

    By John

    By the age of 15, John was regularly sleeping on benches or in a derelict flat. He was surrounded by danger, but it was still better than suffering violence at home. After four years of living rough, John's physical and mental health was in a terrible state. He turned to drink, self-harming and even

    Read full story

  • Why I needed Centrepoint

    By Daniel

    Things came to head when Daniel was 18. One morning while getting ready for work, his father flew into a rage and started to hit Daniel, punching him hard in the face and even hitting him with an iron. Injured and scared, he knew he could not stay at home.

    Read full story

We can solve this

Though our award-winning
approach we will achieve
our vision of ending
youth homelessness. 

The solution