Helping Young People Build a Future Beyond Homelessness
Experiencing homelessness at the beginning of adult life can have consequences that reach far beyond not having somewhere secure to live.
For young people aged 18–25 in Canterbury and East Kent, a new project from Catching Lives will provide dedicated support to help them find stability and begin building an independent future, supported by a £38,000 grant from the Kent Reliance Community Foundation.
Catching Lives is an independent charity supporting people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity.
From its Canterbury day centre, the charity provides essentials including food, laundry and shower facilities alongside one-to-one support covering housing, health and social connections.
The centre also acts as a multi-agency hub, bringing together specialist support in areas including addiction, domestic abuse, health and housing.
Our grant will fund Catching Lives' new Youth Homelessness Project, including the recruitment of a full-time Project Worker dedicated to people aged 18–25.
Rather than addressing housing in isolation, the role will provide tailored, holistic support to help young people secure stable accommodation, access health and mental health services, enrol in education or training and develop practical skills including money management and sustaining a tenancy.
Young people will also be connected with volunteering opportunities and social groups, helping them develop relationships and a sense of belonging within their community.
The project is expected to directly support around 35 young people each year.
Jonathan Couch, Head of Grants, said: "Early adulthood should be a time when people are beginning to discover what they want from life, rather than worrying about where they are going to sleep. What particularly impressed us about this project is that Catching Lives will work with each young person as an individual, addressing housing, health, skills, relationships and future opportunities together. Our hope is that this support can help prevent a period of homelessness from defining someone's future."
By helping young people move towards secure housing, education, employment and stronger support networks, the project has the potential to create change that lasts long after their immediate crisis has passed.
For more information about Catching Lives and its work, visit Home | Catching Lives.