Ms Blair Anderson:

I thank the committee. I am a youth support worker with the Northern Ireland Youth Forum. I work with young people sustaining housing tenancies. I have lived experience like many of the other young people I am currently supporting. I want to share with the committee a part of my journey, parts that I would wish on no other young person but to show gratitude for where I am today. Unfortunately, my revolving door started through no fault of my own. My parents struggled with quite a lot when I was growing up, which meant they ended up homeless. We were unable to stay where we were for a range of reasons which led to us needing support from services like the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. More than 20 times throughout my life I have seen hostels as homes. My family's problems were never addressed or recognised. Growing up, life was not easy. Having to deal with a challenging childhood, I did what most kids would do and rebelled. Aged 14 I lost myself and found myself 17 weeks pregnant. With referrals to social services, I did not have any idea what lay ahead. I had no support, I had no guidance and I had to figure out a system that was not sure how to manage my needs.

I went from foster placement to a bed and breakfast over 14 miles from home to a room in Women’s Aid, all within a year. I found myself aged 16 in Women’s Aid trying to support myself with absolutely no idea what I was doing. Please bear in mind in those two years not one person asked me how I was.

Coming away from this, I now had to manage my own lifestyle. I was fighting for extra rights for my child. I was being told that I was not an immediate housing need. I was being left in Women's Aid. Life was far from easy.

Fast forward to now. I have gained a career with the Northern Ireland Youth Forum where I have worked for three and a half years. I have gained a place on a community youth work degree. I have had an opportunity that has led me on a strategic path and I have had an input into policy and decision-making processes. I have had my voice heard and I have represented the voice of young people in many arenas.

The system is not broken. It was built this way. Young people leaving care have told us that family breakdown and substance misuse are the biggest impacting factors on a young person presenting as homeless. As we all know too well, these vulnerable young people are often in crisis. Too often, we see that young people in crisis are offered hostel availability that is miles away from their support networks, which has a severe impact on the isolation battle they are already facing.

Before you move into a hostel that is miles away from everything you know, you are now faced with four homelessness tests that you need to satisfy before you have your place. If you fail to prove your circumstances in one or more of the tests it could result in your place being at risk. Our systems are placing more barriers rather than helping. Young people living within hostels who are lucky enough to be in employment are also expected to pay rent, and no help is received if they work full time. Young people who are doing their best to maintain a normal healthy lifestyle and not depending on the system for financial support cannot afford to survive, especially today with the cost of living increase.

What would members do? How would they cope? How different would their life be if they did not have the privileges they have? The expectations placed on people with housing difficulties are overwhelming. Nobody preps young people for the reality of independent living. Being placed in a generic hostel comes with a lot of fear and uncertainty for young people. They often find themselves in situations where they engage in risk-taking behaviour and mix with people of influence. Young people can be placed within generic hostels for longer time periods due to the level of housing available.

The rising numbers of young people finding themselves on the street needs to be addressed. Young people North and South are facing the same challenges. They require the input and support of members. The committee should not forget about these young people. They have a voice and they have needs. They do not want to be in this position, but they are forced into this lifestyle.

Given some of our own personal experiences, we know that some properties are of a substandard quality. We welcome the Northern Ireland Housing Executive's, NIHE's, chance to rebuild but the homes many young people and people in general are living in are of poor quality with windows as old as the bricks, and they struggle to maintain the standards that are expected within their tenancy pack, and do their utmost to make their house a home. Having homes that are fit for purpose could put less strain on a service that is vital for a lot of people. One thing I feel very passionately about is the involvement of young people and the impact this can have on either side. Young people have expressed interest in wanting a say in the provision of good quality, affordable housing and having the stock to meet the needs and demand. I thank members for their time