Centre's new studio flats tackle rough sleeping

The Cardinal Hume Centre is delighted to be opening the doors to two new emergency studio flats to help tackle youth homelessness.

Rough sleeping has grown as a result of the pandemic - The London Assembly reported a 47% increase in the number of young people rough sleeping in 2020. This new accommodation will allow the Cardinal Hume Centre to offer safe accommodation to young people who otherwise might sleep on the streets.

Research from DePaul reports that young people continue to make up nearly half of those accessing homeless accommodation services and are very likely to experience re-traumatisation and become homeless again unless they receive support. That is why we feel it is so important to have emergency accommodation with 24-hour support, for young people experiencing homelessness for the first time.

The two studios each have their own private bathroom and kitchenette, for many young people this may be their first experience of supported accommodation and so a private space will help them to adjust. The new accommodation is based on the first and second floor of the Centre's existing 32-bed hostel for homeless young people, so the young residents will benefit from the 24-hour care and specialist support of our staff. A thorough assessment of each young person’s support needs will ensure that suitable long-term accommodation is found for them.

The Centre is committed to tackling youth homelessness and these rooms will allow us support up to an additional 50 young people each year.

We are incredibly grateful to all the funders who helped us create the new studios including: LandAid Charitable Trust; Housing and Communities Department For Levelling Up; Housing Justice; Homeless Link; Liberal Jewish Synagogue; Messenger Of St Anthony UK; Westminster Under School; Bernard Sunley Foundation and The Span Trust

Donate today to help us support more homeless young people

Source: London-assembly, housing committee, DePaul UK Covid-19 and youth homelessness: Our report