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Angela Rayner's weekly column

This week I would like to talk about youth homelessness. 

This new Labour Government recognises that levels of homelessness are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected, including young people.  

I am proud that my Government is already taking the first steps to get back on track to ending homelessness. As announced at the Budget, funding for homelessness services is increasing this year by £233 million compared to 2024-25. This increased spending will help prevent rises in the number of families in temporary accommodation and help prevent rough sleeping. This will bring total spending on homelessness to nearly £1 billion in 2025-26.  I firmly believe that we must deliver long-term solutions to homelessness. Therefore, I am pleased that an Inter-Ministerial Group has been established, bringing together ministers from across government to develop a long-term strategy. Youth homelessness is being considered as part of this work. 

Alongside this, I welcome the establishment of an Expert Group, bringing together representatives from across the homelessness and rough sleeping sector, local and combined authorities and others. The role of this Expert Group is to provide knowledge, analysis and challenge to help the Government understand what is working well nationally and locally and where improvements are needed.  

The Government is also working closely with the sector to deliver a number of ‘lived experience forums’ to ensure that the voices of those with lived experience are reflected in the homelessness strategy. 

Building more affordable homes is critical to tackling homelessness. I am therefore pleased that we have plans to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation and provide 1.5 million new homes over the course of the Parliament. 

More widely, I support our commitment to establishing a youth guarantee of access to training, an apprenticeship, or support to find work for all 18- to 21-year-olds. This will help to bring down the number of young people who are not learning or earning.  

It is worrying that one in eight young people are not in education, employment, or training, with those lacking good qualifications and with poor mental health facing particular disadvantages. We must give young people the chance to build a better life with new skills, mental health and employment support, careers advice and work experience.

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