The London Assembly has today called on the Mayor and the Chair of the London Assembly to support the #PlanForThe136k campaign to end youth homelessness.
The #PlanForThe136k campaign is calling on Government to adopt a cross-departmental strategy to end youth homelessness.
There is a growing issue of youth homelessness in the UK, with 135,800 young people approaching their council as homeless or at risk in 2022-23. 20,200 of these cases were in London alone – a ten per cent increase from the previous year.
The Assembly is therefore calling for support from the London Assembly and Mayor for the #PlanForThe136k campaign.
Siân Berry AM, who proposed the motion, said:
“The evidence is clear: we must act early to solve youth homelessness. More and more young people in London are at risk of rough sleeping turn to homelessness services, yet under-25-year-olds continue to be overlooked in national homelessness and housing policies.
“I am proud to see the Assembly join me in urging the Mayor and Chair to support the #PlanForThe136k campaign and work with Government to adopt a cross-departmental strategy and end this crisis.”
Sem Moema AM, who seconded the motion, said:
“Despite commendable efforts and initiatives by the Mayor of London, such as the Youth Hub and the Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme, numbers of young rough sleepers have risen. Disturbingly, almost half of those who experienced rough sleeping first did so by the age of 25.
"There is clear evidence that early intervention is vital to combat youth homelessness – it’s time to urge the Government to adopt a comprehensive, cross-departmental strategy to end youth homelessness.”
The full text of the motion is:
This Assembly notes:
- the growing issue of youth homelessness in the UK, with 135,800 young people approaching their council as homeless or at risk in 2022-23. 20,200 of these cases were in London alone – a ten per cent increase from the previous year.
- these increasing numbers of young rough sleepers is happening despite ongoing best efforts and new initiatives from the Mayor of London, such as funding the successful Youth Hub run by Depaul UK and New Horizon Youth Centre and the Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme which aims to support hundreds of rough sleepers into supported accommodation. that almost half (48 per cent) of a national sample of people who had experienced rough sleeping first slept rough by the age of 25.
- that young people have been overlooked in national homelessness and housing strategies, despite the fact that young people’s experiences of homelessness are different from other age groups, so solutions need to be specific to them, and should be informed by young people’s lived experience.
- the clear evidence for acting early and solving youth homelessness, plus the need for effective, cross-cutting interventions for young people at risk of homelessness to prevent entrenchment, as well as the opportunity cost of failing to harness the talents of a generation.
- and welcomes the work of the #PlanForThe136k campaign, supported by a coalition of over 120 youth organisations, including several in London, and its call on Government to adopt a cross-departmental strategy to end youth homelessness.
This Assembly calls on:
The Mayor and Chair of the Assembly to support the #PlanForThe136k campaign and write to the Government urging it to take urgent action to adopt a cross-departmental strategy to end youth homelessness.
Notes to editors
- The motion was agreed unanimously.
- Watch the webcast.
- Siân Berry AM, who proposed the motion, is available for interview.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
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