Rock Trust has launched its youth homelessness manifesto – The Way Forward for Young People – a clear and urgent call for political action to end youth homelessness in Scotland.

Youth homelessness is preventable, not inevitable. Young people, however, are facing the perfect storm of low pay, rising costs of living and poor job prospects in the context of ongoing economic instability.   

In a single year, more than 7,500 young people were threatened with or experienced homelessness in Scotland. This makes young people the most disproportionately affected age group in the homelessness system.

Failed housing policy, cuts to youth work services and piecemeal access to mental health support have left thousands of young Scots at crisis point. Too often, young people are pulled into crisis services designed for adults, long after early support could have prevented homelessness altogether. 

The current system is failing Scotland’s young people. It cannot be allowed to continue.

The next Scottish government must act now if it is serious about Scotland being the best place to grow up in the world. 

Our youth homelessness manifesto sets out four practical, deliverable policy asks for the next Scottish Parliament. These measures would that would prevent youth homelessness, support young people into stable housing, and help them build secure futures. 

Our Four Asks: 

Homes for every young person

Young people need access to safe, affordable housing that is designed around their lives — not scaled-down adult solutions. Rock Trust is calling for long-term investment in youth-specific housing options. We are calling for a national approach to supporting young people into the private rented sector, as well as action to address the wider housing emergency through increased social housebuilding.

Act early to prevent youth homelessness

Most youth homelessness can be prevented — but only if support is available before crisis. The manifesto calls for increased investment in early intervention, including school-linked support services, mental health and wellbeing provision, and guaranteed access to youth work so young people can get help when they need it most. 

Supported transitions for care leavers

No young person should leave care into homelessness. Rock Trust is calling for guaranteed housing and support for care-experienced young people, including strong transition planning, aftercare support up to age 26, and full delivery of commitments under The Promise.

Jobs and education for young people

Housing stability alone is not enough. The manifesto calls for fair access to education, training and work — including well-paid apprenticeships, career mentoring, and support to overcome barriers young people young people living in temporary accommodation face.

Rock Trust’s Chief Executive Kate Polson commented: 

“Youth homelessness is not an accident. Unfortunately, it is the predictable outcome of systems that intervene too late and are not designed around young people’s lives. 

We know what works. Early, preventative support works. Youth-specific housing works. Supported transitions work. And yet, too many young people are still being failed at the most critical moments in their lives, potentially robbing them of a future. 

With a Scottish Parliamentary Election approaching, political parties face a clear choice: continue managing a crisis, or commit to preventing youth homelessness and building better futures for Scotland’s young people. Our manifesto sets out what that commitment looks like – clearly, practically, and urgently. 

As a country, we must do better if we are serious about making Scotland the best place in the world to grow up.” 

Alongside frontline service delivery, Rock Trust supports over 1,100 young people each year to avoid or move on from homelessness and works nationally to influence policy and practice through A Way Home Scotland, a cross-sector coalition committed to ending youth homelessness through collective action. 

With the 2026 Scottish Parliament Election approaching, Rock Trust is calling on all political parties to commit to meaningful action and to show that ending youth homelessness is not just an ambition, but a priority.

For media enquiries:
Madeline Cross, Fundraising and Communications Manager
[email protected]  

For policy enquiries:
Lara Balkwill, Policy Officer
[email protected]