Supporting People Plan - Supporting Vulnerable Young People

• There are an estimated 502 vulnerable young people each year who require high levels of housing support.
• There are noticeable levels of under provision of services linked to accommodation in some areas (e.g. Wishaw/Shotts).

Table 16: Estimated Nos. of People with Housing Support Needs

Source: NLC/2001 Census/ East Lothian Council/Pathways Research, 2001

• A survey of 135 individuals in North Lanarkshire showed that among vulnerable young people receiving existing services the main forms of housing support currently unmet was:
• Assistance with compliance with tenancy agreement (36%) especially life skills including food preparation/storage and assistance with budgeting or money management and resettlement activities.

An average of 4.5 hours of unmet housing support was assessed as requiring to be provided each week for each individual.

• Two voluntary agencies provide a total of 62 places linked with accommodation. Places are concentrated in the Cumbernauld and Viewpark areas.
• The local authority provides 220 floating support places across North Lanarkshire.
• An additional 30 floating support places are provided by a voluntary agency with a further 100 places provide by the private sector.

Table 17: Nos. of Housing Support Places

Source: NLC

• The survey also showed that among vulnerable young people receiving existing services the main forms of housing support currently being provided was:
• General counselling and support (100%).
• Assistance with compliance with tenancy agreement (72%) especially life skills including food preparation/storage and assistance with budgeting or money management, dealing with social work staff or relatives and organising access to professional help.
• Maintaining safety and security of the dwelling (28%) such as ensuring security of home and arranging adaptations to cope with disability.

An average of 6.5 hours of housing support was being provided each week to each individual.

• Need for additional places linked with accommodation in areas presently without this type of service.
• Need to expand numbers and range of floating support service provision offered.
• A better range of services for those requiring intensive support.

• Better identify the needs of vulnerable young people requiring housing support.
• Develop 4 housing support places linked to accommodation in Muirhead.
• Undertake comprehensive review of all services to better target service profile towards needs.

[Back to Contents] [Forward to Next Section]