We support young people to avoid and move on from homelessness, helping them build the confidence, skills and stability they need to thrive in adulthood. We also influence policy and practice to create a Scotland where no young person is left behind.

We don’t follow the system, we change it, continually championing the voices and experiences of all young people.

Our mission and vision

Our long-term vision is to end youth homelessness, our more immediate mission is to ensure that every young person in Scotland has access to expert youth specific services to assist them to avoid, resolve and move on from homelessness.

Our strategy for achieving this focuses on three key activities, which we believe, will make homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring: Prioritise Prevention, Increase Housing, Focus on Futures.

Why we are needed

Every year, thousands of young people in Scotland experience homelessness. That number is rising. Young people account for 1 in 4 of all homelessness applications in the country. But even these figures don’t show the full picture. Many young people are hidden from statistics; sofa surfing, relying on strangers, and living in unsafe situations.

Relationship breakdown remains the single biggest reason a young person finds themselves homeless. But it doesn’t happen in isolation. Youth homelessness is driven by low income, insecure work, rising living costs, poor mental health, and a lack of affordable housing. Young people are doubly disadvantaged because they earn less, have fewer rights in the rental market, and often lack the safety net others take for granted.

For some groups, including those with care experience, LGBTQ+ young people, and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and young people, the risks are even higher.

Scotland has strong policy and ambition, but without decisive action and targeted investment, young people continue to fall through the cracks.