The authors of Young people’s housing transitions spoke to young people and specialist practitioners across the UK. Although many young people in the study voiced a strong aspiration for home-ownership, for others a social housing tenancy was a key aspiration in itself.
Researchers found that young people faced difficulties caused by negative social stereotyping, which in turn reduced the housing options available to them. Many practitioners felt it was essential to allow young people to ‘fail’ or change direction without being judged negatively.
The report calls for a flexible support network to enable young people to make the transition to independent living. Participants in the study thought of the transition as a process over time – not a one-off event.
A second report, Housing choices and issues for young people in the UK, found that young people are experiencing increased risk and uncertainty as they move into independent housing. Young people from less well-off backgrounds find housing moves particularly difficult.
The report found that differing levels of access to practical and financial help, as well as sources of support and guidance, are key factors in understanding differing housing outcomes. Access to this kind of support is affected by class background and appears to be increasing housing inequalities amongst younger generations.
Sue Heath, author of the Housing choices report said: “This research suggests that proposed government measures relating to home-ownership have little relevance to the housing concerns of most young people. It also highlights the kinds of issues that should be prioritised in the government’s forthcoming housing reforms.”
Jackie Fox, from ECOTEC Research and Consulting said: “As well as practitioners and young people wanting to see a greater supply of affordable housing for young people on low incomes, there was a call for quality youth housing provision with more specialist youth-oriented housing projects.”
