New Report | Nowhere To Go: Experiences of Moving on from Supported Housing

More than a third of YMCA residents ready to move on but trapped by lack of affordable housing

Deposits, upfront rent and guarantor requirements put independence beyond reach for young people without financial backing, leaving them with nowhere to go

• New YMCA research ‘Nowhere to Go’ examines the experiences of 272 young people living in supported housing across England and Wales.
• One in five YMCA residents trying to move on have spent at least a year seeking their next home, while only 9% of residents feel prepared in terms of having enough money saved.
• YMCA calls for more genuinely affordable homes to help young people build independent lives.

Young people are finding their path to independence blocked, with many living in supported housing spending years trying to secure their next home, according to new research from YMCA England & Wales.

Among residents surveyed who were trying to move on, one in five had been trying for one to four years, revealing the barriers young people face as they strive to build an independent life after experiencing homelessness or instability.

The research, published in ‘Nowhere to Go,’ draws on responses from 272 residents aged 16–24 across 23 YMCAs, alongside focus groups with housing and employment staff.

More than a third of residents surveyed (35%) said they felt ready to leave supported housing. However, two-thirds don’t feel financially prepared to do so. And nearly two-thirds (63%) of those currently looking to move on said securing social housing was difficult.

Housing workers cited young people remaining in supported accommodation longer than they needed because suitable homes were unavailable or unaffordable. Others struggled to raise a deposit or find someone to act as a rent guarantor.

As the largest charitable provider of housing for young people in England and Wales, YMCA warns that these obstacles can delay young people’s independence and limit the availability of supported accommodation for others who need a safe place to stay.

The report calls for councils to be able to act as rent guarantors for young people moving out of supported housing. It also recommends ongoing support after the move to help young people sustain their tenancies and live independently.

Denise Hatton, Chief Executive of YMCA England and Wales, said:

“A young person can spend months rebuilding their confidence, learning to manage a home and preparing for their future, only to find that the next step is completely out of reach.

“For many who have already experienced homelessness, a home of their own can mean stability, privacy and the chance to build a future. Spending a year or more trying to get there is a significant part of a young person’s life and risks setting them back.

“We need more homes that young people can genuinely afford, alongside practical help to secure a tenancy and sustain it. YMCA wants to help deliver many of those homes, but organisations like ours need the funding, access to land and development support to make that possible.”

YMCA has a bold ambition to create 10,000 homes for young people. It calls for investment in affordable housing for those leaving supported accommodation, including support for charitable providers like them to develop new homes.