The Foyer project went live on 16 October at Sunderland YMCA, to complement the existing home that the YMCA provides for young people with advice, guidance and encouragement.
Marion Thompson, chief executive of Sunderland YMCA, said: "The launch was a celebration of our successes, and a springboard for further work to support the problem of teenage homelessness in Sunderland."
Thompson, who is a member of Sunderland's Homelessness Strategic Working Group, said the council had only counted young people sleeping rough as being homeless. Following pressure by the group, it now takes account of homeless teenagers such as "sofa surfers", who sleep on friends' sofas, and those moved around relatives. This has made the council realise that homelessness in the city is a bigger problem than originally thought, added Thompson.
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