We carry out research on the issues affecting homeless young people and develop the policy solutions needed to bring about change. Here, find our extensive collection of research documents to help understand the work we do.
Despite widespread calls from Centrepoint and others in the sector to make the Universal Credit uplift permanent, the Government chose to withdraw the extra money in 2021, impacting millions of vulnerable households across the country.
This scoping review sets out the case for why ending youth homelessness needs to be a public and political priority. It pulls together key information on the scale, causes and impacts of youth homelessness on young people themselves and wider society
Having somewhere to call home is a fundamental human need. But thousands of young people across the UK are deprived of this essential right and face homelessness, exclusion and housing insecurity. This in turn risks trapping them in a cycle of exclusion and hardship that follows them throughout their lives
The Youth Homelessness Databank tracks the number of young people approaching local authority homelessness teams across the UK. In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland this data is sourced from the devolved governments, but in England the data is collected through FOI requests to individual local authorities as there is less data available broken down by age at the national level.
In 2019, the London Borough of Haringey commissioned Centrepoint to establish and deliver a two year Housing First for Care Leavers pilot project. The University of York was commissioned by Centrepoint to undertake an independent evaluation of the early stage of the project. The research included a literature review, project monitoring, qualitative interviews with five young people and 10 staff and other key stakeholders involved in commissioning and delivery of the project.
The social security system is a vital lifeline for thousands of young people experiencing homelessness and disadvantage across the UK. However, this peer-led research project into the benefits system finds that in many areas, the system is falling short of providing the support that young people need.
Centrepoint is conducting a research project looking at how homeless young people access the social security system and their experience of it. As part of this research project, Oxera provides a backward-looking assessment of the impact that the social security system has had on young people under the age of 25 (under 25s) between 1988 and 2020.
This report has reflected on the impact of the last year on vulnerable young people; the research looks at youth unemployment, homelessness, poverty and mental health, assessing the impact of the government’s policy interventions during the pandemic.
Mental health issues and formal diagnoses occur within 10-20% of young people not experiencing homelessness. However, the prevalence of mental health issues and formal diagnoses are even more prevalent within the population of Centrepoint young people analysed for this research.
This report is based on a survey of English councils, analysis of Centrepoint’s Helpline data, and interviews with local authority and Centrepoint staff.
There is clear evidence that thousands of young people across the country are facing homelessness and housing insecurity due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Effective interventions for young people at risk of homelessness are essential to reducing youth homelessness.
Our research looks at the key reasons why relationships breakdown and the kinds of pressures faced by families.
Our annual Databank report examines how many young people approached their council because they were homeless or at risk in 2018-19, the first year since the Homelessness Reduction Act came into force.
We examine young people's experiences of hidden homelessness and the dangerous, impossible situations they find themselves in.
Many homeless young people are stuck in precarious employment, from temporary agency work to zero-hour contracts. Find out what more can be done to ensure young people find a route out of homelessness through secure employment.
Youth violence and criminal exploitation are significant drivers of youth homelessness. Much has been done to highlight the risks of youth crime and violence, but the impacts on a young person’s housing situation should be made clearer.
The Youth Obligation, a special programme of support within Universal Credit, is failing to support the most disadvantaged claimants, including homeless young people, into work.
The full report on our evaluation of the government's Youth Obligation programme, carried out by the University of Warwick.
To mark Centrepoint's 50th year, we look back across the generations. Our poll of over 1,600 UK adults reveals the changing experiences of young people growing up and leaving home; from those who came of age in the 1970s to young people today.
It's increasing difficult for homeless young people to move out of supported accommodation and into independence. We explore the barriers and what needs to change.
Centrepoint wouldn't be successful without positive relationships between homeless young people and our staff.
Our annual Databank report examines how many young people approached their council because they were homeless or at risk in 2017-18.
Ahead of the introduction of the Homelessness Reduction Act, we explored how effective it was likely to be in supporting young people out of homelessness.
Many young people leave the prison system without housing secure placing them at risk of re-offending and homelessness.
Care leavers remain at high risk of homelessness, when the risk support to transition from care to independence isn't in place.
Practitioners who support care leavers tell us what young people need to move on from care successfully.
Moneywise is the umbrella term for the range of activities delivered by Centrepoint aimed at improving the financial and mental wellbeing of homeless young people.
Unemployment is particularly common among disadvantaged groups, including those who have experienced or are at risk of homelessness.
