The charity's latest report, Improving Housing Outcomes for Young People, found that money for many successful housing schemes for young people, including foyers and supported lodgings, is becoming scarce as a result of government cuts and the removal of ringfencing to local authority budgets.
Report author Rachel Terry urged councils to prioritise housing support for all young people and called on social and private landlords to do more, particularly at a time when youth unemployment is continuing to rise and young people's wages struggle to keep pace with spiralling living costs.
"Private landlords can do more, such as become more involved with approved lettings schemes for young people," said Terry. "At 16 it may seem wonderful to have your own place but it is really difficult. The schemes (highlighted in the report) recognise that and their success proves the support they offer is very much needed."
Successful schemes
Among the examples of successful projects were those where social landlords had worked closely with schools and youth groups to help young people better understand independent living and personal finance.
At a time when finances are tight, such schemes are cost-effective because they reduce the risk of young tenants defaulting on rent or breaking the terms of their tenancy, the report states.
Choice-based lettings schemes are another example that offers accreditation to private landlords of vulnerable young people. The report said: "This is good for prospective tenants in providing more choice, and some reassurance about the landlord, as well as for private landlords in gaining free advertising of their vacant properties."
Terry said councils have been "slow" to involve private landlords in such schemes, but added that even with financial restrictions there is still a lot that local authorities can do to ensure housing support continues.
As well as involving social and private landlords she anticipates councils will have to focus more on cheaper "floating support" through a support worker, rather than more expensive permanent support such as foyers.
Coventry-based social housing landlord Whitefriars Housing has developed an Open College Network course to raise awareness of social housing and to teach young people the skills to manage a tenancy.
Whitefriars also distributes booklets on independent living for use in personal, social, health and economic education lessons. In addition, it runs a specific programme for teenage mothers in Coventry. Karen McDowall, head of customer excellence at Whitefriars' parent company the WM Housing Group, said that as a group, teenage mothers are likely to become tenants.
McDowall acknowledged that in austere times social housing groups and private landlords have a greater responsibility to support young people with housing issues.
"For a small financial contribution and staff time to go into schools, we are helping our tenants of the future," she said. "Already we are seeing the benefits with young people who live on our estates being really community-focused, asking questions about whether there are enough bins on the estate, for example."
Financial pressures
John Perry, policy adviser at the Chartered Institute of Housing, said the threat hanging over council-funded projects was a concern for housing professionals and for vulnerable young people.
"A number of schemes that prevent homelessness, including those for young people, are at risk because of financial pressures on councils," he said. "There is a central government fund for homeless work that is safe, but for every £1 spent from that £10 should be spent by local authorities."
He also agreed that housing associations have a lot to gain from supporting young people. He said: "Looking at examples such as Whitefriars shows that such support is not vastly expensive and can bring real rewards to the association and tenants."
