Hosts sought for homeless youngsters

Charity Safe and Sound Homes, which has operated in North Yorkshire since 1996, is expanding into the East Riding, an area with one of the highest homelessness figures in the country.

Bridlington-based The Hinge Centre, which helps homeless youngsters, and which is working with SASH, say referrals are up 150 to 200 per cent in the past 18 months.

Nightstop gives young people, aged 16 to 24, a chance to stay in someone’s home for a few nights, with access to the support they need to get back on their feet. As one volunteer said: “It is just one human being giving another one a bit of help – it’s dead easy.”

All SASH hosts are CRB checked and trained and supported and youngsters offered a placement are risk-assessed and police-checked before being accepted. Volunteer Chris Ware said he’d had no more problems with his guests than any other teenager: “The fact they have come to a house that is safe simply gives them breathing space.

“We don’t get too involved in complications, we just have to be ourselves. If they want to chat –fine, if they want to watch TV fine, if they want to sit in their room –fine, it is about making sure they go off with breakfast, feeling happy.”

Expenses are paid to hosts and they have a telephone contact in case of problems. Anyone who thinks they could help is asked to call 01904 652043 or email [email protected].