The House Project: putting young people in charge of their transitions from care

Objectives Research evidence over the past three decades suggests that many young people who leave care face a higher risk of disadvantage and social exclusion throughout their adult life. Disruption through placement movement... [ view full abstract ]

Objectives
Research evidence over the past three decades suggests that many young people who leave care face a higher risk of disadvantage and social exclusion throughout their adult life. Disruption through placement movement while in care together with a lack of support networks, obstacles to education and career opportunities, and isolation post-care can result in care leavers struggling to cope. With transitions to independence rushed and sometimes instant, care leavers can be forced into adult living without sufficient preparation. A recent study of young people in and from care (Dixon et al, 2014) reported that 48% of ‘care leavers’ left their final care placement before their 18th birthday. One-third said they had ‘no choice’ and 42% said they did not have enough information to help prepare them for leaving.
This paper describes an alternative route to post-care accommodation, for young people in the UK transitioning from care. It focuses on the development of The House Project, the first UK housing cooperative for care leavers. The main aims of the project are to provide young people with a supported transition to independence and to ensure that they are provided with a safe and stable ‘home’ and a say in how this can be achieved. This project allows young people to play a key role running a housing co-operative and in identifying and designing the types of homes they would like. Additionally, it provides opportunities to work with professionals, including architects, training providers and education workers to develop their skills and employability. The House Project’s stated aims are to get to the heart of the issues that lie behind the poor outcomes associated with leaving care, by allowing the young people to have the greatest say in how the co-operative works, how their transitions can be best managed how they can be and supported to remain in their property for as long as they need or want.
Method
The paper will draw on the early stages of an ongoing evaluation of The House Project (HP). The evaluation uses a participatory method to ensure that HP members contribute fully to the evaluation. As participants, they have contributed views and experiences via interviews, focus groups and questionnaires. HP young people have also worked alongside researchers from the University of York to shape the direction of the research enquiry e.g. attending a two-day research workshop to identify key issues that they considered important to understanding transitions from care, such as the importance of not only having a house after care but making it a home.
Results
The evaluation is ongoing and results will be discussed where available. As the House Project is the first UK housing project for care leavers that is based on a co-operative model, the focus of the paper is to understand: how and why it came about; the issues it was seeking to address; early indications, based on the views of HP young people and staff, on progress and outcomes so far; and some the challenges and facilitators involved in implementation of the project.
Conclusions
Care leavers involved in the initial set up of the HP have played a vital role in bringing young people’s voices and opinions to shaping the project so that it can meet the needs of care leavers. In aiming to create a project and new approach that will provide care leavers with more choice, support and security when leaving care, the HP represents a subtle shift in the way young people in care make their transition to independence in the UK.
The paper will be co-presented by young people involved in the House Project.