Relationships First? The initial two years of Haringey Housing First Project for Care Leavers:Final Report

In 2019, the London Borough of Haringey commissioned Centrepoint to establish and deliver a two year Housing First for Care Leavers pilot project. Centrepoint managed and delivered the project, employing two full-time Housing First officers, as well as a part-time Service Manager and supporting up to 10 young people at one time. The University of York was commissioned by Centrepoint to undertake an independent evaluation of the early stage of the project. The research included a literature review, project monitoring, qualitative interviews with five young people and 10 staff and other key stakeholders involved in commissioning and delivery of the project.The evaluation shows that the Housing First project was successfully supporting a highly vulnerable group of young care leavers to sustain their tenancies in the local community. Key learning points from the project included: • The need to set up formal, and close, inter-agency working relationships from the outset of the project, including a joint understanding of the overall philosophy of Housing First; • Making housing available as soon as possible after referral to enable young people’s lives to be stabilised as soon as possible and for the project to operate as ‘Housing’ rather than ‘Relationships’ First; • The importance of a needs-led, relational approach and dedicated staff in engaging and supporting complex and vulnerable young people; • Extending the project to more young people, and extending the support available on education, training and employment, other health and therapeutic interventions and leisure/group activities.