East Riding: YMCA hostel's plea for more affordable housing

More than 20 people live at the hostel, which equips them with skills for independent living

A YMCA hostel said it is finding it "impossible" to move residents into accommodation.

Staff at the charity-run site in Goole said they need more affordable housing in the area for young homeless people.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC) said it is working hard to combat increasing numbers of people asking for homelessness help.

The impact of Covid-19 and the cost of living crisis are factors that have led to the rise.

'Landlords are reluctant'

Homelessness charity Centrepoint said East Riding saw a 376% rise in the number of homeless 16-24-year-olds or those at risk of homelessness in 2022-23, compared to the year before.

Julie McLaughlin from the YMCA in Goole, said: "There's not a lot of affordable accommodation within the East Riding.

"It can also be the cost of bonds and four weeks rent upfront and all these different hurdles that make it impossible."

Giles Conlon, the YMCA's housing services manager for York and East Riding, said: "Private landlords are increasingly reluctant to take people who are on universal credit.

"Rents have gone up in the private sector, the availability of accommodation [to move on to] has become more difficult, so they have to spend more time here."

The YMCA is teaching Ben to budget and find employment

Ben, 20, a new resident at the hostel, moved to a house after being in foster care but a relationship breakdown left him on the streets at 19.

"It was awful because I couldn't sleep and it was cold. I didn't have much, I didn't have a big coat," he said.

"Living on the streets was frightening."

An ERYC spokesperson said: "The council works hard to combat the increasing [homelessness] numbers and continues to try to intervene at the early stages and work with families, landlords and other agencies to try to prevent homelessness.

"Where this is not possible, it looks to assist households and to look at all options for those who need to be rehoused."