A coalition of 30 organisations have called for more to be done prevent youth homelessness rather than having crisis emergency being prioritised.

And the chair of the group believes Scotland is risking losing their reputation as a world leader in preventing homelessness if things don't change. 

It comes as the latest data from the Scottish Government showed that almost 9,000 people between the ages of 18 and 24 put in a homeless application in 23/24.

Now to mark World Homeless Day, the coalition has published a report tracking Scotland’s progress in implementing the Youth Homelessness Prevention Pathways.

A Way Home Scotland is a coalition that was set up by the Rock Trust after being inspired by a A Way Home Canada, after learning about their approach at the national youth homelessness conference in 2017.

The movement began with a recognition that it was more than just a homelessness and housing issue but was also a problem for youth and community, children and families, health, justice and education.

A Way Home Scotland then invited leaders from across sectors to join forces to co-create solutions to the youth homelessness problem in the country.

It then created a plan to end the problem in Scotland and worked together with the Scottish Government to create two Youth Homelessness Prevention Pathways. In 2019 it was about young people leaving care and then followed up by one for all young people at risk of or who were already experiencing homelessness.

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That created guidance and recommendations for local authorities in their bid to end youth homelessness and they have since been surveyed on three occasions to provide an overview of how the work is being progressed across the country.

In the past, the survey showed increased focus on, planning for and the delivery of services but that has changed in the latest survey – taken in August 2024.

The report states there has been a cut to education, employment, family and relationship services, fewer provisions for young people leaving care, prison or healthcare and staff training has also been reduced.

That’s despite more than 90 percent having a homelessness strategy and plans to tackle youth homelessness.

The report does suggest that local authorities still have those plans in place but the reduced resources mean they are unable to provide the services needed.

The coalition has now set out three main points it wants followed to keep prevention high on the list as it called for no young person to be discharged from care, hospital or prison without a home to go.

It also wants assurances that every young person and their family have access to early support and advice, as well as there being affordable housing and a living wage.

Kate Polson, CEO of Rock Trust and chair of A Way Home Scotland, believes Scotland is losing its reputation has a world-leader when it comes to homelessness and puts it largely down to a lack of funding for young people and has called on the country to ensure youngsters are able to have a stable and secure home in the country they grew up in.

She said: “Scotland was once world-leading in its homelessness and housing legislation and policy, but the implementation gap remains.

“We have had some really positive stories of work being done locally in some Local Authority areas, but it is very clear that a reduction in funding is resulting in a retrenching of services for young people.

“If Scotland is to be the best place to grow up, we need to ensure that young people have stable and secure homes and support to maintain them.”

Housing Minister Paul McLennan said: “The Scottish Government is clear that everyone should live in a safe, warm, affordable, high quality and energy efficient home that meets their needs and preventing homelessness for young people is a key focus for the Scottish Government.  

“We welcome the publication of the Rock Trust report which we will carefully consider as we continue to work with partners to deliver the Pathways recommendations for young people and care-leavers.

“The Housing (Scotland) Bill introduces a range of measures designed to keep people in their homes. It places a stronger emphasis on prevention of homelessness based on better coordination across systems and providing holistic support earlier.”