Dear Sir,

Youth homelessness does not start on the streets. More often, it begins behind closed doors through family conflict, instability and uncertainty about where a young person will sleep or whether they feel safe at home.

At Depaul UK, we work to prevent homelessness before it happens through education, family support and emergency accommodation in a crisis. We build on safeguarding in schools with specialist knowledge of youth homelessness, housing rights and routes to support.

Our workshops help young people understand where to turn for help, while our training equips teachers and other professionals to recognise risks early and respond appropriately.

Signs such as anxiety, withdrawal from friends, poor attendance, unexplained tiredness or reluctance to go home can all indicate that a young person needs support. With almost 124,000 young people estimated to have experienced or been at risk of homelessness across the UK last year, recognising these signs early has never been more important.
This World Homeless Day, we are encouraging everyone who supports young people to start conversations, listen without judgement and seek help early. By spotting the signs sooner, we can prevent more young people from reaching crisis point.

Regards,

Alexia Murphy
CEO, Depaul UK.
Depaul UK - Sherborne House
Sherborne House, 34 Decima St
020 7939 1220