Project announced as one of the three winners in prestigious awards
Lambeth Council’s Routes to Independence Pathway project has been announced as one of the top three winners in this year’s London Homelessness Awards.
In 2022 the council commissioned a new pathway for young people with a housing need. This followed a realisation that services for homeless young people were not meeting their needs. The Lambeth team undertook a comprehensive needs assessment of their services involving data analysis, extensive consultations with young people and stakeholders, and visits to services delivering best practice.
They found that the council were not preventing youth homelessness in the way that they wanted; young people felt ‘warehoused’ and ‘unsafe’ in big hostels; mental health needs were not met; there was no support to move into independent accommodation.
Sophie Konradsen, the Lead Commissioner for Lambeth said:
“We used this assessment to launch a huge transformation programme; we basically decided to stop what we were doing and start again. The hostels decanted, and a new pathway was designed and commissioned between Housing and Children’s Social Care with a pooled budget to drastically improve outcomes. We now have a real emphasis on preventing homelessness and keeping young people in a home environment, or in independent accommodation with support.”
The new innovative services include an Emotional Wellbeing Service to provide clinical interventions with young people and upskill staff in being trauma-informed and housing-related support services for young people including one for those with mental ill health and another for those actively involved in gangs.
The announcement of the overall winner and the allocation of the £60,000 prize fund will be revealed at a special event at St Martins in the Fields, on Wednesday 4th December, presented by Baroness Louise Casey.
Simon Dow chaired the judging panel. He said:
“2024 saw an exceptional range of applicants giving us a formidable short list and some very tough choices to make. Each project’s presentation to the judging panel were powerful and a real reminder of just how vibrant the homelessness sector in London continues to be.”
More details about the London Homelessness Awards can be found at www.lhawards.org.uk