There are many reasons why young people become homeless, including family relationship breakdown and mental health issues. Youth Homelessness is a complex issue, but one which we believe we can end. 

It is estimated that every year in the UK 150,000 people aged 16-25 ask for help with homelessness. 7,000 of them are in Wales. And we believe there are many more young people who do not ask for help because they don’t know what help is available or how to access it.

You do not have to be living on the streets to be classed as homeless. Young people are very often sofa surfing or sleeping on floors, with friends or strangers to avoid sleeping rough. And as the generosity of friends and family runs out, they very often make more and more risky decisions about where to sleep each night.

Being homeless when you’re young can be terrifying and have life-long consequences if you don’t receive the right support. Sleeping outside or dealing with the stress of having to find a different sofa or floor to sleep on every night is frightening and exhausting.  Trying to keep yourself safe when you’re young and trying to study or hold down a job is more than most of us would manage. It can easily lead to significant mental health issues, substance misuse and offending behaviour.

We believe that the only way to end homelessness is to focus on ending youth homelessness first. That's because many people who are sleeping on the streets today were homeless when they were younger as well. We have to step in early and support the homeless young people of today to prevent them becoming the homeless people of tomorrow.