Aylesbury's Youth Concern calling for feedback from homeless people
They are looking at expanding their Nightstop campaign
Youth Concern are asking for feedback from people who have experienced homelessness in Aylesbury and beyond.
Young people, and those now older, are being asked to help Youth Concern understand the needs of homeless people in Aylesbury and Buckinghamshire.
Nightstop is one of the groups core services, it's and emergency accomocation service where young people stay with a host for 3 days.
However, they want to make sure that the service works for the people who use it and does enough to support them.
Youth Concern say that around 300 young people (16-24) in the Aylesbury Vale area reported being homeless to a local authority. Only64 those were referred to YC for advice, support or their services.
Hannah Asquith is the Chief Executive:
"Nightstop is already providing a vital service to the young people of Aylesbury Vale but now more than ever, we need to look at how we can increase and improve the support that we offer, especially with the threat of greater levels of homelessness due to the pandemic.
"There is no point me sitting here in my house dreaming up the perfect scenario for young people who are facing homelessness.
"We need to ask young people who have experienced nights on the street, sofa surging or sleeping in the back of a car to get their experience.
"And find out whether Nightstop running longer, maybe a week or a month of safe accommodation in a host's home, would have made a bigger difference. Helping them move into independent living after Nightstop came to an end."
Youth Concern want to hear not just from 16-25 year olds who have experienced a level of homelessness, but any age.
This will allow them to understand the problems that develop later on, and what could have helped the age group they look after.
The survey comprises 11 questions and can be completed online.