Following an earlier evidence session held in November 2011, an enquiry into youth homelessness has been opened by the Scottish Parliament Equal Opportunities Committee.

 ‘Having and Keeping a Home: steps to preventing homelessness among young people’ will be looking at existing good practice in Scotland by local authorities and other agencies as well as effective practice beyond Scotland. The enquiry also seeks to identify gaps in preventative service provision and establish how these gaps could be closed. Committee.

Specific areas to be scrutinised include: practice sharing; identification of early triggers for youth homelessness, including the link with young runaways; issues faced in rural areas; issues facing young care leavers and the role and process of mediation for young people at risk of homelessness.

SCSH has submitted a written response to this enquiry addressing these issues, which is available through the Homelessness: Policy, Practice & Prevention – Scotland  Knowledge Hub.