Preventing homelessness through early intervention mediation
How early intervention mediation service talk2sort is preventing homelessness for young people.
talk2sort is a homelessness mediation service provided by The Bridge (East Midlands). It supports young people aged 11 to 19 and their families across Leicestershire who may be having problems at home or with their relationships.
The service aims to reduce the likelihood of homelessness for young people. talk2sort focuses on reducing conflict, improving communication and improving mental health and emotional wellbeing. The service offered is free, impartial, non-judgemental and confidential.
The project is funded by Public Health England, Children in Need and Charnwood Borough Council (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Homelessness Prevention Fund).
The project is based on an understanding of the inter-related nature of mental health and wider social factors. It recognises the importance of reducing inequalities, with a desire to explore ways to address young people’s mental health needs outside the clinical model.
The service is offered before families reach a crisis point. Drop-in services are offered at schools and colleges, and the service is well advertised, with many referrals being received by word of mouth.
One-to-one meetings are offered to young people and family members prior to joint mediation sessions. The service employs specialist mediators who use a range of creative and participatory approaches to help families explore their problems. The service adopts a flexible approach to delivery. There is no time limit on support, it is offered at flexible times, including evenings, and at locations where people feel safe and comfortable.
Partnership working is at the heart of the service, based on well-established relationships with referral agencies and other services. The service is future-focused and supports young people and families to identify for themselves realistic and achievable ways of moving forward. The low-cost prevention service generates significant cost savings to other, more expensive areas of public sector expenditure, including housing, health and social care.
The project has seen great success. A report produced by Homeless Link found that in 2015 to 2016, 119 young people were supported. 83% remained at home, while 17% were accommodated by other relatives. 92% also reported feeling more positive, and 90% reported improved communication in the family home.