Property industry charity LandAid is appealing to BTR operators to support its Build to Rent Pathfinder initiative and help to end youth homelessness.
The initiative seeks to create tenure-blind BTR flats for young people facing homelessness through a unique collaboration between LandAid, the UK BTR sector and a number of frontline youth homelessness charities to help solve this growing issue.
LandAid is now calling on BTR operators to pledge units from across their schemes to be made available at heavily discounted rents. The homes will be utilised for young people who have previously been supported by charity but are now keen to take their first step towards living a more independent life.
A number of BTR firms have already signed up to back the campaign, including Grainger and Realstar, which have pledged to offer units in their schemes in Salford, Sheffield and Leeds. LandAid hopes to have 30 spaces available throughout 2024 and 2025.
Meaningful difference
Grainger chief executive Helen Gordon said: “As a sector, we are a force for good, providing much-needed, high-quality and well-managed homes, but through the Build to Rent Pathfinder we have an opportunity for the sector to work together to make a meaningful difference to those who need our help the most, by helping to tackle the urgent issue of youth homelessness in the UK.
“I firmly believe that everyone has the right to a safe and secure home, and with community such a huge part of the BTR ethos, the Pathfinder project provides the opportunity for us to pool our resources and support our local communities – and in doing so change people’s lives for the better.”
Realstar UK chief executive Ryan Prince added: “I have always believed that the correct partnerships and policies in the real estate market could help mitigate homelessness, and we are pleased to be part of the solution. Realstar’s mission has always been to be the most trusted owner and operator of the places our customers call home. We are looking forward to welcoming these young people into UNCLE Leeds and hope to continue this partnership for the foreseeable future.”
Brighter futures
LandAid hopes that with more BTR and PRS operators signing up to back the initiative, it will help make significant progress in its goal to end youth homelessness and provide better futures for young people.
The Pathfinder’s overarching ambition is to expand opportunities for young people to move on from temporary accommodation to safe, affordable housing within a sustainable, supportive and empowering environment.
Alice Lamb, LandAid’s deputy chief executive and director of operations, said: “Many young people facing or experiencing homelessness are in work, education or training but remain trapped in the cycle of homelessness as they cannot pass the affordability test for a tenancy. This is where the Pathfinder initiative can make a difference.”
She added: “Build-to-rent operators are in a unique position to help, and the ethos of BTR developments – well-managed, safe, high-quality accommodation that has community and connection at its heart – would make a world of difference to so many young people who are ready to leave the experience of homelessness behind them.”
Growing problem
With a successful pilot project now complete, LandAid needs more BTR operators to sign up to the initiative.
And the need for more rooms is growing. Last year, some 135,800 young people aged between 16 and 25 approached their local council for housing support – the equivalent of one young person every four minutes – with the volume of requests growing by 5% on 2023.
According to homelessness charity Centrepoint, one in 52 young people in the UK today are either homeless or at risk of homelessness, with the East of England and the North West having the highest rates of youth homelessness. The West Midlands, London and the North East round out the top five regions with the highest volume of young homeless people.
The number of young people facing homelessness is growing most starkly in the East of England and the West Midlands, both up by 14%, followed by the South East (up by 12%) and the South West (up by 11%).
Security and stability
More than half of those affected by homelessness cite friends or family no longer being willing or able to accommodate them as a reason for their situation, showcasing how powerful LandAid’s Pathfinder initiative could be if enough landlords sign up.
Ed Tytherleigh, director of services at Centrepoint, which is working with LandAid on the project, said the scheme was a “wonderful opportunity” for commercial landlords to prove they can offer solutions to create security and stability for young people facing homelessness.
“Offering these units will enable young people in communities across the UK to take their first steps towards living in an independent and sustainable way,” he said.
Gordon added: “As leaders in the sector, I am proud that Grainger is part of this pivotal industry movement, committing to an allocation of build-to-rent homes in several regional locations. We would love for as many of our counterparts in the sector to commit to a similar offering and help LandAid achieve its target of providing at least 30 bed spaces during 2024-25.”
“This initiative is about so much more than the S in ESG,” said LandAid’s Lamb. “This is an opportunity to generate real social value and impact and to truly turn someone’s life around.”
EG will be offering its support to LandAid along the way by showcasing the positive impact that the built environment is making and highlighting firms that pledge their support to the campaign.
If you would like to get involved, contact LandAid at btr@landaid.org
Main image: Young people benefiting from LandAid’s Build to Rent Pathfinder initiative
All images © LandAid
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