Workshop InviteFriday 14th December 2007 at 9 -12.30pm at Hove YMCA, Marmion Road, This is a free workshop.
Hove YMCA is facilitating a workshop for professionals working with young people and families in Brighton & Hove. The workshop will provide delegates with an understanding of the triggers of homelessness and will support them in identifying those young people at possible risk of future homelessness. Participants will develop an increased awareness of current homelessness legislation and of the housing options available to young people
Homeless Prevention has become an increasing priority for local authorities and voluntary agencies over the past couple of years. Young people, particularly those aged under 18, are a group that has been identified at being at a greater risk than the general population and in Brighton and Hove this is a high concern. Hove YMCA housing advice service saw nearly 800 young people access their drop-in in 2006/7, one third were aged 16 and 17 years old. Family and friend eviction was the main reason cited for homelessness in 54% of these cases, rising to 70% in under 18’s. Nationally it is the third reason.
Both nationally and locally homeless prevention has been addressed through mediation services and Housing option initiatives, however most of these measures can only be put in place when an individual or family is already homeless or threatened with homelessness. This workshop aims to look at one distinct area of homelessness: identifying at an early stage those young people who may be at particular risk of becoming homeless and making sure that risk is minimised or eliminated.
Professionals who are working with young people, for example teachers, health visitors, youth workers, connexions workers, educational welfare officers are more likely to know when a teenager is having problems at home which places them in a unique position to help that young person access any potential housing or support services. Training can help these professionals identify issues such as overcrowding, debt and family stress and tensions and thereby alert housing services when they believe a young person or family is at risk of homelessness.
If you are interested in attending please complete the booking form by clicking here ASAP, and return to me at Julia.Harrison@hoveymca.org.uk. Please contact Julia for any more information and if you want some publicity you can download an invite here... (JPEG19KB)
We are easy to find, for directions and maps click here...
We look forward to seeing you on th 14th!