The document discusses a project in North Rhine-Westphalia called WohnPerspektiven that aimed to prevent youth homelessness in rural areas. The project found that youth homelessness is invisible in rural areas due to a lack of data. It also found that the support systems in place were overwhelmed and that youth would receive "false help" before getting the right assistance. The project developed approaches like using navigators and case conferences to better link youth to support. It also encouraged dialogue between housing and educational services. While some progress was made, the document notes that prevention networks for youth still lack systematic funding and depend too much on local traditions.

1. Preventing youth homelessness in rural areas
The case of North Rine-Westfalia
Investing in young people to prevent a lost generation in Europe:
key policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness
8th November 2013, Prague, Czech Republic
Alexander Sbosny

2. The state programme in NRW
Investing in young people to prevent a lost generation in Europe:
key policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness
8th November 2013, Prague, Czech Republic
Alexander Sbosny
established in 1996 to support communities and non-communal institutions of the welfare sector (co-payment 20%)
exemplary instead of structural funding with a focus on the prevention of homelessness (total volume per year ~ 1.1 million €)
premises: innovation, orientation on social environment, transferability (funding period max. 3 years)

3. Investing in young people to prevent a lost generation in Europe:
key policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness
8th November 2013, Prague, Czech Republic
Alexander Sbosny
The project WohnPerspektiven
duration: 02/2010 - 02/2013
target group: young homeless people and those threatened with homelessness (aged between 15-27)
aims: survey youth homelessness in 3 rural areas, develop and test different kinds of help
resources: additional employees for the participating institutions, project management, scientific supervision and evaluation

4. Investing in young people to prevent a lost generation in Europe:
key policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness
8th November 2013, Prague, Czech Republic
Alexander Sbosny
The project WohnPerspektiven
survey
interviews with key players of the support system and homeless people to learn about youth homelessness
conferences to activate the dialogue between the different institutions of the support system
public relations

5. Investing in young people to prevent a lost generation in Europe:
key policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness
8th November 2013, Prague, Czech Republic
Alexander Sbosny
Findings about the target group
youth homelessness in rural areas is an invisible phenomenon, no data concerning the quantitative dimension exists
multiple problems underlie housing insecurity, permanent conflicts with parents / partners as main triggers
clients and support system do not match!

6. Investing in young people to prevent a lost generation in Europe:
key policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness
8th November 2013, Prague, Czech Republic
Alexander Sbosny
Findings about the target group
everyday life
family/ friends
range of movement
5 kilometres
changing housing situations in a small radius
clients often search for private solutions beyond the institutional support system, especially with the help of friends and family

7. Investing in young people to prevent a lost generation in Europe:
key policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness
8th November 2013, Prague, Czech Republic
Alexander Sbosny
Findings about the help system
wide range of community facilities and social institutions in most rural parts of NRW as well
no specific support system for the target group
surrounding support system (e.g. Debtor Consulting Agency, Counselling Centre for Drug Addicts) is overstrained with youth homelessness

8. Investing in young people to prevent a lost generation in Europe:
key policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness
8th November 2013, Prague, Czech Republic
Alexander Sbosny
Findings about the help system
“marshalling-yard”: shifting the responsibility for young homeless people in rural areas
on average 8 „false helps“ are necessary to get the „right help“ in the Housing Emergency Support

9. approach 1:
Preventing youth homelessness in rural areas needs all local expertise and personal resources!
instrument: navigation aid
Investing in young people to prevent a lost generation in Europe:
key policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness
8th November 2013, Prague, Czech Republic
Alexander Sbosny
Results of WohnPerspektiven

10. Investing in young people to prevent a lost generation in Europe:
key policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness
8th November 2013, Prague, Czech Republic
Alexander Sbosny
Results of WohnPerspektiven
approach 2:
Preventing youth homelessness in rural areas needs explicit competences and responsibilities!
instrument: case conferences

11. Investing in young people to prevent a lost generation in Europe:
key policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness
8th November 2013, Prague, Czech Republic
Alexander Sbosny
Results of WohnPerspektiven
approach 3:
Preventing youth homelessness in rural areas needs a dialogue between the Housing Emergency Support and the Educational System!
instruments: study guide and collaborative teaching units

12. Investing in young people to prevent a lost generation in Europe:
key policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness
8th November 2013, Prague, Czech Republic
Alexander Sbosny
Results of WohnPerspektiven
general:
networking is the missing link between clients and support system
dialogue between the different stakeholders of social welfare has to become a routine
benefit: less excessive demand and acceptable solutions

13. Investing in young people to prevent a lost generation in Europe:
key policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness
8th November 2013, Prague, Czech Republic
Alexander Sbosny
We achieved a lot..
Results and findings of WohnPerpektiven were transferred across the state and to stakeholders.
In some regions the co-operative model of preventing youth homelessness is working steadily.
North Rhine-Westfalia is still operating its yearly statistics on homelessness and focuses regularly on youth homelessness.
The state department for social welfare organizes dialogues between stakeholders of the homeless and the youth welfare services to find a connecting model for the prevention of homelessness and the support for young homeless people beyond local arrangements. Open end!

14. Investing in young people to prevent a lost generation in Europe:
key policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness
8th November 2013, Prague, Czech Republic
Alexander Sbosny
But…
There is no systematic funding or claiming of prevention networks for young homeless people.
Local solutions depend on traditions, connections and political opinions.
Young homeless men and women are a target group with only a small lobby especially in rural areas.

15. Contact:
Alexander Sbosny
StadtRaumKonzept GmbH
Phone: 0049 231 5323446
Mail: sbosny@stadtraumkonzept.de
Investing in young people to prevent a lost generation in Europe:
key policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness
8th November 2013, Prague, Czech Republic