“It’s either someone being kicked out or walked out.”

Youth homelessness in Doncaster sees increase again

Youth homelessness has surged across the country, and Doncaster is no exception to the rise.

A homeless charity in the town revealed that as 2020 comes to an end, the number of cases have begun increasing back to pre-pandemic levels, despite reaching out to over 250 young this year..

Nicki Jones, 47, project worker at Doncaster Housing for Young People (DHYP), said: “I think the pandemic made families more tolerant so they didn’t want to kick people out.

“Family breakdowns are the most common reasons why young people become homeless.

“When things get a bit too much, it’s either someone being kicked out or walked out.”

She explained that because the UK is now operating as usual, cases of youth homelessness have increased again.

The UK’s leading youth homlessness charity, Centrepoint, said there were already 121,000 people who presented to their local authority as homeless or at risk in 2019.

Seyi Obakin, the director of Centrepoint, warned that this was a 40% increase in the UK’s youth homelessness compared to five years ago.

Mrs Jones said, “The biggest challenge is when the vulnerable person does not have proper identification which may cause trouble with benefits.

“Also, when the person has no income, it’s hard to find them accommodation.”

Since its inception in 1993, DHYP has been supplying family mediation, supported lodgings, outreach and more.

In 2020, DHYP was able to provide accessed accommodation to 56 young people, find employment for 11, as well as give education and training to 13 others.

Ben Keegan, CEO of Sheffield's youth homelessness charity Roundabout said: “We call for more resources to guide towards homelessness prevention interventions such as Family Mediation & early intervention in schools.

“Our experience has shown that so much youth homelessness can be avoided with the right interventions at the right time.”

As a result, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) have invested £750 to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping in 2021.

If you feel you are at risk of homelessness, please reach out to your local council family service or your local youth homelessness charity for help.