About YPSF

The Young People’s Support Foundation (YPSF) was founded in 2005 in Manchester through the merger of two very long established and well respected local organisations, City Centre Project and Signpost. In 2008 they were joined by Starting Out, a floating support service from the Benchill Ecumenical Social Service, which moved into St Andrew's Hall with Signpost.

YPSF was established to 'find more effective ways of dealing with homelessness problems as they arise', and to develop preventative approaches to homelessness and other problems experienced by young people.

The charity delivers a wide range of consistent, accessible, meaningful and sustainable services, advocating a combination of open style services and casework which are responsive to the needs of homeless young people in Manchester.

With a philosophy of empowerment and participation YPSF works to ensure that homeless young people are treated with respect and dignity. They are supported to identify their own needs and to develop appropriate responses to meet those needs.

Some young people become homeless or are at risk of homelessness where personal relationships or family relationships break down, where there is domestic violence, or where they get into debt and can no longer afford the home they rent or own. Some experience abuse or other traumatic events, some suffer from drug or alcohol misuse by themselves or by others, some suffer mental health or other personal problems. Many suffer a combination of two or more of the above. These and other causes may lead to them being unable to pay their rent or mortgage.

Many young people are able to secure alternative housing on their own or with the help of family or friends, but some are not. Its not an easty thing to do and even harder without support networks. Research has shown that young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness do not simply need a house to solve the problem; they need holistic, flexible services that can respond to their particular needs (Homeless Directorate, Evaluation of Initiatives to Prevent Youth Homelessness 2003).

It was estimated that during 2004/05 there were almost 5,000 incidences of homeless young people in Greater Manchester (Manchester City Council Homelessness Service 2005). However, this figure was only the visible number of young people, i.e. those who officially approached the statutory authorities for assistance. That 5,000 total does not include the unquantifiable number of young people who managed to find accommodation on their own e.g. staying with friends without presenting to the authority or those who are still in temporary accommodation – the 'hidden homeless'.