Learning to prevent homelessness

17/05/2010

Visitors chatted to the students about the support options available to those at risk

Students at the College's Haywards Heath campus were recently made aware of the issues most young people face when leaving home unexpectedly and without a plan, often as a consequence of family conflict.

On Friday 7th May professionals from Mid Sussex District Council Housing Services (MSDC), The Citizen's Advice Bureau (CAB), Acorn House, Signpost and Lifehouse met students in different areas of the College; they distributed leaflets and gave information about the housing options and support available to young people at risk of becoming homeless in Mid Sussex. The main purpose of the information event "Preventing homelessness" organised jointly by MSDC and the Welfare team at Haywards Heath campus was to alert students to the danger of hasty decisions about living independently without careful planning and realistic budgeting.

Thanks to the professionalism, enthusiasm and goodwill of the visitors from the agencies involved, the event was well received. The visitors praised the initiative and the College with positive comments such as "I did enjoy myself on Friday - you have a great bunch of students!"