The document discusses youth homelessness in Europe. It reports sharp increases in youth homelessness in several countries like the UK, Denmark, Ireland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. The profile of young homeless people is also changing, with more women in places like France and Sweden, and more mortgage defaults and migrants in other countries. Common pathways into youth homelessness include structural factors like unemployment and limited housing access, as well as relational and health issues. Recommendations include providing more housing options for young homeless people, supported housing solutions before leaving youth care, and adapted employment schemes along with protections against reforms that disproportionately impact at-risk youth.

1. Youth homelessness in Europe
Gwendolyne Orchard
Policy Officer
FEANTSA
Investing in young people to prevent a lost generation in Europe: key policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness
8th November 2013, Prague, Czech Republic

2. Sharp increase in some EU countries
U.K.: 12%
Denmark: numbers doubled
Ireland: 43%
Hungary: 36%
Czech Republic: 38% (Prague’s figures)
Investing in young people to prevent a lost generation in Europe: key policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness
8th November 2013, Prague, Czech Republic

3. Profile of young homeless person is changing
More women: France and Sweden
Mortgage defaults: Scotland
More migrants: Italy and Spain
Investing in young people to prevent a lost generation in Europe: key policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness
8th November 2013, Prague, Czech Republic

4. Pathways into homelessness
Structural causes: unemployment, limited access to benefits, unaffordable housing: spain, Scotland, Ireland, U.K., Denmark and Finland
Relational causes: Sweden, Spain
Health issues: Portugal and Finland
Increases caused by one or more factors
Investing in young people to prevent a lost generation in Europe: key policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness
8th November 2013, Prague, Czech Republic

5. Recommendations
More housing option for young homeless people
Proper supported housing solutions need to be available BEFORE young people are released from youth care
Access to employment is essential but young homeless people need adapted employment schemes
Investing in young people to prevent a lost generation in Europe: key policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness
8th November 2013, Prague, Czech Republic

6. Recommendations
EU Member States should ensure that reforms do not affect disproportionately young vulnerable people
Do not criminalise homelessness, especially when it concerns young homeless people
Investing in young people to prevent a lost generation in Europe: key policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness
8th November 2013, Prague, Czech Republic

7. Thank you for your attention
Gwendolyne.orchard@feantsa.org
Investing in young people to prevent a lost generation in Europe: key policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness
8th November 2013, Prague, Czech Republic