Herts Young Homeless Project Captures our Hearts

Herts Young Homeless vision is to break the homeless cycle in Hertfordshire by helping vulnerable young people from homelessness to independent living.

Future Roots is an innovate project that does exactly what it says on the tin – it gives homeless young people the opportunity to put down roots of their own. The first four housemates aged 18 and 24 moved into a six-bedroom house in January 2022 and started a transformational time in their lives.

Over the course of 18 months, and with the help of a live-in support worker, these young people will learn the skills they need to move on to a home of their own. Everything from how to change a lightbulb, to budgeting and paying bills. They will learn the social skills necessary to be a good housemate and a great neighbour with cooking sessions and house meetings. And they will also learn how effective communication is key to communal living. And when the time comes, the team will help them find a rented home of their own. Knowing they have the support of the HYH team and a safe place in which to learn makes all the difference.

“This project was after our own hearts,” said Jeannie Pitt, B&Q Foundation Manager. “Not only giving young people a safe space in which to live but teaching them how to look after their home sets them up so well for the future.”

Welcoming Spaces

The £5000 B&Q grant provided furniture and fittings for the house, kitting it out to a high specification.

“We really wanted this to be a home – not a hostel,” said Sally Scott, Director of Services. “It was important for the housemates to feel like it was somewhere they wanted to be and somewhere they wanted to look after. It is safe and welcoming, and they love it.”

HYH supports young people across Hertfordshire in a wide range of ways – from early intervention and mediation to ensure young people remain in the family home, if possible, to educating circa 10,000 young people every year through our sessions in schools.