Homelessness and young people

In Malta we generally polarise ourselves, not only politically into red and blue but across a wide range of issues.

Perhaps in the very sensitive area of homelessness and young people we could indulge in less establishment bashing, and focus more on preventative policies.

Homelessness, whether you view it in its narrowest sense of those sleeping rough or living on our streets, or at its widest, where you include everyone living in some form of inappropriate or inadequate housing, is a fact of life everywhere, however generous the welfare state, however few the economic problems.

A report from the UK's Department of the Environment put it like this: "Housing and labour market factors, migration, demographic and socio-cultural factors create the preconditions of single homelessness in the mismatch of housing and job supply and demand. Social and cultural factors, life-cycle and personal crises cause some people to be more vulnerable to these preconditions than others."

As yet the problems of young homeless people are generally very small. People do not here move town in search of a job as, if a job is found, there is no need to move home. However there are many children who are vulnerable to homelessness. Some of the problems we can and must plan for and prevent.

Others are hidden behind that fortified wall known as the Maltese family, where serious problems are so often hidden from others and even denied. It is only when the young person explodes and leaves or is forced to leave home that we understand what a miserable existence family life is for some.

The recent stories about abuse in a Church home also show us how vulnerable children are and how few their rights. Amazingly most of these children have grown up, found jobs and are bringing up families. The damage caused is only just surfacing. We will no doubt hear more about how many young children's lives are wrecked by those who are meant to look after them.

Would it not be a good move if MPs were to each take one of these homes under his (there are too few hers!) wings and act as an advocate for these children, our future citizens and their future voters?

In the UK certainly children who were in care are more vulnerable to homelessness. Locally, data on homelessness, its causes and its likely preconditions are still very sparse but it seems logical that children in care will have more problems in many areas than those who come from strong supportive family networks.

One of Margaret Thatcher's worst decisions was to cut housing benefit (rent subsidy) so that you had to be 18 to get it and not 16 as previously. Suddenly there was a huge surge of young people on the streets of British cities and the largest group were those who had left care homes at 16 but had no way of funding their housing costs until they were 18.

The Housing Authority has taken two significant steps to help. Firstly we give three times the normal rent subsidy to those agencies who find a flat for say three young men sharing a flat after leaving care. Secondly while we have only recently opened up our issues for sale for single people too, these normally have to be over 30 but in the case of single people with a disability or those leaving care these can apply from age 18.

However, while in most Western European countries young people are more likely to be homeless, this trend has not yet reached our shores but it soon surely will. Workers at YMCA recently said the problems are currently more acute with mothers and children being homeless than for young people.

However, if we consider trends abroad and the preconditions that have led to an explosion in young homelessness it may well be an opportune time to start some preventative as well as palliative measures to reduce upcoming problems.

Why then are more young people homeless?

Firstly the rising proportion of single person households which has increased the demand for suitable housing.

Secondly the continued decline in the private rented sector.

Thirdly higher levels of family breakdown.

Fourthly and importantly higher expectations of young peole of independent living and a lack of preparation for it.

Within these factors one also needs to consider the groups that are most vulnerable, namely: those leaving care, survivors of abuse, young lesbians and gay men who are more likely to be rejected by their families, ex offenders.

Sadly none of these groups attracts a huge amount of public sympathy although the recent scandal at St Joseph's home may well have galvanised public opinion more strongly to ensure that these children, at the very least, have a right to be free of abuse. It is particularily galling when one realises that children are taken away from parents who can no longer look after them and are then given into the care of those who potentially may abuse them.

Well before these children leave care, their life needs to be planned out and their housing needs are an important consideration, as they have in fact never had a real home of their own.

Young people's homelessness deserves to be dealt with. First of all we need some sensible definitions that rely less on political correctness and more on social realities. Secondly, we must prevent young people's homelessness as they could well become the homeless families of tomorrow. Thirdly, planning for housing must be linked to training and employment opportunities. Fourthly, the governemnt's housing allocation policies need to reflect the problems of young single people.

And fifthly, we need to work together to ensure a coordinated approach rather than the far easier and popular route of government bashing which inevitably leads to knee jerk reactions and resources spent unwisely, haphazardly, with little value for money in terms of the future lifestyles of today's young people and tomorrow's famililies.