To create a brighter future for the young people accessing our day centre, we recently shared our feedback surrounding Brighton and Hove City Council’s (BHCC) draft Homelessness and Rough Sleeping strategy 2025 – 2030, and we are now asking if you would join us in providing feedback.
We welcome the focus on prevention and would encourage the council to make a clear statement that tailored support for young people is fundamental to preventing homelessness in the long term. We’re delighted to see the inclusion of our requested chapter on Children, Young People and Families, however the lack of specific actions or measurements related to improvements for young people is a concern. For a significant number of young people homelessness is caused by family breakdown, so focussing on children within the family setting is not enough.
We also welcome the commitment to partnership working. To ensure the right partners are involved, creativity and understanding about the intersecting needs faced by young people experiencing homelessness will be important. This could include work in relation to poverty, including the specific challenges young people face around Universal Credit, low wages, zero hours contracts, and more.
Our CEO, Fabia Bates, shares her further thoughts on the BHCC’s 5-year strategy.
“We welcome the council’s focus on prevention, partnership and improving temporary accommodation but there needs to be more clarity about the specific needs and challenges faced by young people. Addressing the root causes of homelessness and breaking the cycle at the earliest possible stage is vital.”
Click here to read the BHCC’s strategy and to offer your feedback, or send an email to fabia@thects.org.uk to share your thoughts, suggestions, or concerns with us, and we will ensure they are fed back.
Thank you for advocating for the brightest possible future for young people experiencing homelessness here in our city.