right homes, right now campaign
Young people need the right homes at the right time - helping them on the pathway to independence and breaking the cycle of youth homelessness. A home provides young people with the foundation they need to be healthy, progress in education, or get a job and contribute to society.
But the housing system isn’t working. Too many young people are unable to move on from homelessness, build self-reliance, or maintain stable housing.
If we all speak out together, we can change this. We're calling on the government to take action on three different types of housing, to ensure every young person has the safety and security of the right home.
supported housing
Young people need access to supported housing that provides safety, stability and tailored support when they are leaving care or are experiencing homelessness.
However, due to restrictive local connection requirements and wider gatekeeping practices, young people experiencing homelessness are frequently prevented from accessing supported housing.
If every young person who needed supported housing could access it, fewer young people would be pushed into rough sleeping. More young people would be given the support they need to begin their journey to independence.
We are asking the government to:
Ensure that the government continues to review both the implementation of the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 and the funding model for supported housing to ensure providers can deliver high-quality support.
Ensure that commissioned and licensed supported housing is available and accessible to the young people who need it, including through an amendment to the Housing Act 1996 to include additional grounds for establishing local connection such as location of education, when assessing eligibility.
STEPPING STONE HOMES
Stepping stone homes are a dedicated housing product that give young people access to affordable, stable housing they need to start living independently.
There is no formal recognition of stepping stone homes as an established affordable housing product. As a result, proposals are routinely delayed.
If stepping stone homes were recognised as an affordable housing product for young people, this would help existing providers to build them more quickly and will encourage other charities, housing associations, to replicate the affordable housing model to help meet the housing need across the country.
We are asking the government to:
Recognise stepping stone homes as an affordable housing product for single young people ready to live independently and scale up their availability nationally to help tackle the housing crisis.
Ensure that the government secures dedicated capital funding through the Social and Affordable Homes Programme to expand the supply of appropriately sized stepping stone housing for young people.
affordable homes
Young people need timely access to long-term, genuinely affordable one-bedroom social homes so they can build a secure and stable future.
There are not enough one-bedroom social homes to meet the demand. But increasing the supply alone would not solve the problem, as young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness can fail affordability criteria.
If affordable social housing was an option for all young people who have experienced homelessness, it would provide the next step in their journey to independence. Social homes are essential to enable them to move on and escape the cycle of homelessness.
We are asking the government to:
Ensure that the government’s commitment to build 1.5 million homes delivers a significant increase in genuinely affordable housing for young people, defined in relation to their local incomes.
Increase the supply of one-bedroom social homes to better reflect the housing needs of young people and support their transition to independent living ensuring integration within mixed tenure developments.
Housing isn’t working for young people - add your name if you agree
A home is the foundation to get on in life, but far too many young people are being held back by poor housing. We need homes that support young people at every stage of their journey to independence and help unleash their potential.
Will you add your name to our open letter calling for the Secretary of State to meet with young people and re-design the housing system together?