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National Youth Homelessness Scheme
Work in schools
Working with schools is about early prevention of homelessness. It involves raising awareness of and challenging myths about homelessness; developing an understanding of what causes homelessness and giving information to young people and school staff about where to go if there is a risk of homelessness.
There is a rich variety of work going on in schools across the country. In some areas work with schools is well established and has been taking place for many years. But there is also evidence to suggest that as a result of the new duty within the Homelessness Act 2002, more local authorities are commissioning work in schools as part of their prevention of homelessness strategies.
The underpinning basis for work in schools is that if we can make a difference to young people's attitudes and circumstances at a young age, there is a greater chance of them not becoming homeless. Generally, positive long term outcomes are more likely if young people do not go down the homelessness route.
In many instances, preventative work with schools is delivered alongside a family mediation service, often by the same organisation or service. These two aspects of preventative work, whilst distinct, do link well at both a strategic and practice level.
Measuring the long term impact of this work on homelessness requires patience. But there is evidence from some case studies in this section to suggest that where working with schools has been going on for several years, there has been a significant reduction in homelessness applications.
Which ever way you look at it, working in schools adds value. Putting aside the critical long term outcomes for each individual young person, consider a purely economic, value for money perspective. Compare the cost of funding some work with schools (say £60,000 a year for medium sized local authorities) to the cost of a young person living in supported accommodation for a year, (say £15,000 a year). If just 4 young people are prevented from going down the homelessness route a year, the work has paid for itself. In short, it's a great example of spending to save.
The hallmarks of good practice in this area are:
- A strategic understanding is reached with commissioners and they are approached for funding
- Clear outcomes for the young people taking part are identified before the work begins and measured to determine the impact of the work
- Young people most at risk of homelessness are targeted for advice, information and peer mentoring
- The organisation can evidence follow up work with schools (such as schools seeking advice/information and referrals) as an impact measure
- An interactive methodology is used to engage young people
- Young people with experience of homelessness are trained and supported to deliver peer learning to students in schools
- The sessions are geared to address individual school's issues/needs
- The work links to the prevention of homelessness work in the area
- The provider has local credibility in terms of work with homeless young people
- The work is evaluated independently.
(researched and written by St Basils)
