Worcestershire Nightstop charity say more complex issues are having an impact on youth homelessness

The Wyre Forest and South Worcestershire team have been operating in the area since the early 2000s

The Wyre Forest & South Worcestershire Nightstop say they've seen a change in issues affecting young people
Author: Elliot BurrowPublished 23rd Sep 2024

A charity in Worcestershire which aims to tackle youth homelessness says they've seen a real change in the issues which are affecting people.

The Wyre Forest & South Worcestershire Nightstop has been running in the area since 2005, offering support and help to those between the ages of 11-25.

Chief executive Judith Ford says they can see the impact some of the issues families are currently facing are having, and more needs to be done to deal with the problem.

"What we're seeing now is an increased complexity in the support needs that young people present to us," she said.

" A lot of people still think of the stereotypical view of homelessness as where you have somebody rough sleeping, maybe sitting out in the town centre, but for young people that isn't really the true picture, the homelessness is a lot more hidden.

"We're just finding at the moment with young people going back into education, that they're struggling to get the resources they need for college, we're seeing families struggling to provide uniforms for children going back to school.

"I think if we're really going to tackle homelessness long term, we've got to turn it on its head and stop thinking of crisis solutions, and actually look at the causes of homelessness."

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