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ProblemsHomeless / RunawaysAnyone can end up homeless due to circumstances over which they may have had no control. Being homeless can bring with it not only the practical problems of having no fixed place to stay, to feel safe, to feel secure, but it can also greatly affect a person's self esteem, confidence, identity, and sense of belonging. Many homeless people can feel an enormous sense of isolation and despair. It is not always easy to be motivated and energised when sleeping rough or in temporary accommodation. It takes a lot of strength to keep going and to try and turn the situation around, to try and get back on your feet and to find some semblance of security in your life. It is important to try and get as much support as you can from wherever you can to help you to access services and assistance which is out there. Sadly many young people on the streets have left home due to abuse, neglect and we get calls and emails from young people who are contemplating running away from home as a way of solving their problems. If you are a young person reading this and are in this situation we would urge you to look at other ways of trying to deal with any difficulties you might be experiencing at home. Children and young people who runaway frequently become targets for people who do not have your best interests at heart. They may pretend to care for you and befriend you and may well have ulterior motives. It is not uncommon for young people who runaway to be forced into prostitution, stealing, and other crime and once in that situation it is very difficult to get away from the person who may be abusing you so by running away from an abusive situation you may well be running into another abusive situation. If you have problems at home or any kind of problems please use the resources from this website and links to other websites and agencies to try and get help and support to deal with the difficulties you may be experiencing. To get help you need to ask for it - from teachers, friends, parents, relatives, helplines, youth workers, GP, - anyone you feel you can trust - if you don't get the help you need from that person - ask another person and keep asking until you get the help you need. For anyone who has gone missing or runaway - you may have your own reasons for this and feel you don't want anyone to know where you are and may have moved on with your life - however for your family/loved ones it can be extremely difficult for them to move on with their lives not knowing whether you may be alive or dead - perhaps think about leaving a message to let people know you are safe and you can do this through the Runaway Helpline and Missing Persons Helpline (details below). Agencies which provide support and informationAlone in London: (relevant to all London Boroughs) 020 7278 5575 (Advice line from 2pm-4pm) 188 Kings Cross Road, London WC1X, email enquiries@als.org.uk, www.als.org.uk - Provides advice, advocacy, housing, family mediation, employment and training opportunities for young people aged 16-25 years. There are seven projects for young homeless people with low to medium support needs Alone in London provides four main services:
Barnardo's Young Men's Project: (relevant to all London Boroughs) 0207378 8797, emailymp@barnardos.org.uk, www.barnardos.org.uk - Works across London to prevent and reduce the sexual exploitation of boys and young men, including those who are abused through prostitution. Services include support, advice and information, health education, group work, training and awareness raising. Works with all young men regardless of sexual orientation. Ages 18 years and under at time of referral. Bfree Project (NSPCC): (relevant to young women sexually exploited in London's West End) 020 8981 8730 38 Wager Street, London E3 www.nspcc.org.uk - Works with girls and young women under 18 years at the time of referral, who are at risk of or involved in sexual exploitation. Services include support, advice and information, drop in and outreach, liaison with services, training and awareness raising. Big Issue Foundation: 020 7526 3200, email annie.turner@bigissue.com, www.bigissue.com - Helping homeless people to help themselves. Aims to enable people affected by homelessness to achieve self confidence, self esteem and independence. Provide a gateway to a range of support services, both within the community and on site. These include housing and resettlement, specialist health services, education and training. Broadway - Shared Houses: (relevant to all London boroughs) 020 7089 9500, Chaucer House, White Hart Yard, London SE1, email broadway@broadwaylondon.org, www.broadwaylondon.org - Works with single, homeless people with low to medium resettlement needs. Broadway's shared houses provide accommodation for 153 single, homeless people who need some support to develop independent living skills. The accommodation includes mixed, men only and women only housing with all referrals coming from a list of designated agencies. (accepts Agency referrals only) For ages 16-60 years. Centrepoint - Streets Ahead: (relevant to all London boroughs) 020 74265690 Crisis Skylight Building, 68 Commercial Street, London E1 www.readyforjobs.com - Works with job ready people who are homeless or who have been homeless within the last two years or insecurely housed, to enable them to secure temporary or permanent employment. Services include vocational guidance, CV preparation, computer training and job search facilities, literacy, numeracy, English as a second language and basic skills support. It provides a free voicemail service, travel expenses to interviews provided as well as help with finding suitable clothes for interviews. Ages 16-25 years. Connection At St.Martins: (relevant to all London boroughs) 020 7766 5556 email: info@cstm.org.uk, www.connection-at-stmartins.org.uk - Provides an outreach and drop in service offering advice, support and advocacy on health, drugs, alcohol, sexual health, sexuality, homelessness, housing, benefits, education and careers. There are also youth work services and a doctor's surgery. Also practical facilities such as showers, an information technology suite and a subsidised cafeteria. Support is available for young people looking for accommodation. Ages 16-25 years. Crisis Skylight: (relevant to all London boroughs) 0870 011 3336 email: enquries@crisis.org.uk, www.crisis.org.uk - Activity centre for homeless people and the local community. Aims to improve practical life skills, reduce isolation and improve confidence and self esteem. Wide range of creative and social activities, short course and classes. Kitchen where people can share cooking skills, with non costly food available and course sin food preparation and catering. Access to support and training programmes. The service is for homeless people, including those who have recently been resettled. Ages 16 years and above. Crisis Health Action (area served London): 0870 011 3335, email enquiries@crisis.org.uk (based at 66 Commercial Street, London E1) - Exists to improve the access homeless people have to health and social care. Provides education and training to homeless people. Day centre offers activities such as art, painting, computer classes etc. Includes library with database of health agencies and useful organisations. Day Centre Mon-Fri 2pm-9pm, Sat & Sun 12 noon-7pm Admin: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm. Eaves Housing for Women (area served London): 020 7735 2062, email post@eaveshousing.co.uk, www.eaves4women.co.uk - Offers shared temporary accommodation for single homeless women 18-60 without dependents. Must be in housing need and requiring additional support in areas such as alcohol or drug dependency, mental health, relationship breakdown, domestic violence. Specialist projects include mental health, HIV and for survivors of sexual abuse. Field Lane Homeless Families Project: (relevant to all London boroughs) 020 7278 3873, www.fieldlane.org.uk - This is a drop in day centre for homeless families living in bed and breakfast hotels and other insecure accommodation, including people seeking asylum and families with refugee status. Services include advice on housing, benefits, childcare, health, education and careers. Also provides practical support and classes. All ages. Get Connected: 0808 808 4994, email help@getconnected.org.uk, www.getconnected.org.uk - Free UK wide, email and telephone helpline that finds young people the best help whatever their situation. Connects vulnerable young people under 25 particularly young runaways to services across the UK which can help. HOMES - Housing Mobility and Exchange Services: 020 7963 0200, email customer.services@homes.org.uk, www.homes.org.uk - Helpline for tenants and members of the public who wish to move home, information on HOMESWAP, UK wide mutual exchange scheme (also on the internet at wee.availablehomes.org.uk) HOMES Mobility Scheme, reciprocal nominations to other landlords, HOMESWAP Xtra, for moves locally and further afield. Shared Ownership HOMES. Available HOMES, social sector properties for rent, low cost home ownership properties. Keychange Charity: 020 7633 0533, email info@keychange.org.uk, www.keychange.org.uk - To provide good quality residential care and Christian community. Currently two homelessness projects (direct access hostel and supported accommodation hostel, both for women). Eight projects for elderly people, two nursing homes, five residential homes and sheltered housing. National Missing Persons Helpline: 0500 700700, www.missingpersons.org - The helpline can be contacted to call home, or if you have information about a missing person or you are concerned about a missing friend or relative. Nightstop UK: 01274 533004, email info@nightstop-uk.org, www.nightstop-uk.org - Service for young people aged 16-25 who are homeless or at risk of being made homeless. Volunteer hosts provide accommodation for young people with evening meal, chance to have bath or shower and breakfast in the morning. Volunteer hosts all checked with the Criminal Records Bureau. Nightstop schemes across the UK. The Refuge, St. Christopher's Fellowship and NSPCC: (relevant to allLondon boroughs and nationally), 0800 3892168 PO Box 3652, London N7 Provides confidential, short stay (up to 14 days), direct access refuge accommodation for children and young people who have run away. Works with 11-16 year olds. Advocates and negotiates with families and/or social services in order for children to return home or to care successfully. Runaway Helpline: 0500 700 700 / 0808 800 7070, www.runawayhelpline.org.uk, email runawayhelpline@missingpeople.org.uk - 24hr freephone helpline for anyone aged 17 or under who has run away from home or care, or been forced to leave home. It gives young people an opportunity to pass a message to their family or carers and provides them with confidential advice. The service can also make referrals to other organisations and help a young person to get to a safe place. St. Christopher's Fellowship: 020 8780 7800, email info@stchris.org.uk, www.stchris.org.uk - Charity and housing association providing care, accommodation, education, training and support to children, young people and vulnerable adults. With the exception of the Refuge all projects are via professional referral only. Ages 12-25 years. Shelter's free housing advice helpline: 0808 800 4444 email: info@shelterorg.uk, www.shelter.org.uk - Provides telephone advice and information for people with a housing problem or who are homeless. Offers support and advice on housing rights, harassment, problems with tenancies, illegal eviction, rent and mortgage arrears, housing benefit, domestic violence, hostel placement and finding accommodation. All ages. www.shelter.org.uk/knowyourrights - Website specifically aimed at 16-25 year olds. Simon Community: 020 7485 6639, PO Box 1187, London NW5, email thesimoncommunity@yahoo.com, www.simoncommunity.org.uk - To provide relief, care and comfort to those people sleeping rough and with no fixed abode, to campaign for improvements in the quality of life for the homeless and rootless. One night shelter and two residential homes, street work to reach those people who most need help, medical care, tea and soup runs, twice weekly street café. Spires: 020 8696 0943, email info@spires.org.uk, www.spires.org.uk, 8 Tooting Bec Gardens, London SW16 - To improve the quality of life of people who are homeless, jobless or suffering from the effects of poverty, mental illness or loneliness, by providing a range of day centre services. Open access day centre. Services include free meals, clothing, companionship, resettlement advice, primary health care clinic, drug and alcohol services, benefits advice, women's group and adult learning sessions. Stonham Housing Association: 020 7401 2020, email stonham@homegroup.org.uk, www.stonham.org.uk - Housing association providing care and support for people in order to enable them to gain greater independence and control over their lives. Housing care and support services (residential and non residential) to single homeless, ex offenders, people with mental health problems, learning difficulties, physical disabilities, drug and alcohol misusers, young people leaving care or at risk, women escaping domestic violence, vulnerable mothers and babies. Talk Don’t Walk: 0800 085 2136, www.talkdontwalk.org.uk - Support and advice for young people who have run away from home or are thinking of running away from home or care. The Albert Kennedy Trust: (national and relevant to all London boroughs) 020 7831 6562, email London@akt.org.uk, www.akt.org.uk - Works with lesbian, gay and bisexual young people up to the age of 21 years, providing advocacy, support and advice. Also gives access to supported lodgings with gay and lesbian carers who provide a positive role model and environment. The young person must self identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual. Voice for the Child in Care: (relevant to all London boroughs and nationally) 0808 800 5792, Unit 4, Pride Court, 80-82 white Lion Street, London N1 9PF, email help@voiceyp.org, www.voiceyp.org - Provides independent, confidential advocacy services to children in need, in care or who are leaving care and who make direct contact with VCC. Also visiting advocacy to children in residential care and secure establishments. Assists young people who have run away or who are at risk of running and who contact the freephone number. Ages 21 years and under. Women’s Link: 0800 652 3167 (0800 652 3187 for Prisoners and Ex Offenders), email advice@womenslink.org.uk, www.womenslink.org.uk - Advice and information on accommodation including emergency accommodation for women. Useful websites
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