Housing First for Youth
- Jun 07
What is Housing First for Youth (HF4Y)
Adapted from the successful Housing First approach, Housing First for Youth (HF4Y) is a rights-based intervention for young people (aged 13-24) who are experiencing homelessness, or who are at risk of becoming homeless. The goal of HF4Y is to support young people through their adolescence and facilitate a healthy transition to adulthood, all while having a safe and stable place to call home.
Housing First for Youth (HF4Y) is a rights-based intervention for young people who experience homelessness, or who are at risk. The goal is to help prevent homelessness or help youth to quickly exit homelessness. HF4Y is designed to address the needs of developing adolescents and young adults by providing them with immediate access to housing that is safe, affordable and appropriate, and the necessary and age-appropriate supports that focus on health, wellbeing, life skills, engagement in education and employment, and social inclusion. It is not time limited, and more than just offering housing and supports.
The Core Principles of HF4Y

Immediate access to housing with no preconditions
All Housing First services are based on upholding housing without preconditions as a human right as described by the UN. For youth, age is an important consideration in the type of housing provided. Housing for HF4Y needs to be safe, affordable and appropriate, based on the needs and abilities of developing adolescents and young adults.

Individual, client-driven support with no time limit
Due to their age and stage of development, HF4Y recognises that the needs of young people evolve over time, so the nature and range of supports must be adaptable. Individualised plans of care take into account developmental changes, capabilities and capacities, maturity and level of independence.

Youth choice and self-determination
As a rights-based, client-centred approach, HF4Y emphasizes youth choice regarding housing and supports. In practice, it means presenting the options available that fit the criteria of HF4Y, the pros and cons of each, what is recommended given the young person's circumstances, and asking them what they would like to do and what support they think they need.

Social and community integration
Social inclusion and community integration are crucially important to the development of adolescents and young adults. HF4Y promotes social inclusion by helping young people build strengths, skills and relationships that will enable them to fully integrate into and participate in their community, in education and employment.

Positive youth development orientation
HF4Y uses a strengths-based approach that focuses not just on a young person's risk and vulnerability, but also their strengths to build self-esteem; improve communication and problem-solving skills; enhance and build natural supports, including family relationships; access opportunities and identify personal interests.
An Introduction to Housing First for Youth (HF4Y)
Designed for people who are learning about Housing First for Youth (HF4Y) for the first time, this short introductory guide offers an overview of the key elements of HF4Y and why it’s important, together with frequently asked questions and answers.
Read or download the publication here.
Rock Trust Housing First For Youth Pilot
THIS Is Housing First for Youth: Europe – A program model guide
Working in cooperation with our partners in Canada, Ireland, Scotland and The Netherlands, the Hub is delighted to announce the publication of This Is Housing First for Youth – Europe – a programme model guide for starting up and running HF4Y in Europe. The guide is available in English and French.
Read or download the guide:
HF4Y Community of Practice
The Housing First Europe Hub is trying to establish a Housing First for Youth Community of Practice!
This would allow professionals and front line staff to have a space where they can share experiences and knowledge, and confront each other on the practice of Housing First for Youth.
If you are interested in taking part in this initiative, please fill out this form.
Feel free to also share the link with anyone who may want to be a part of this community– the more the merrier!
Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Samara Jones, Programme Coordinator at the Housing First Europe Hub: samara.jones@housingfirsteurope.eu
HF4Y Trainers’ Directory
These trainers can offer specialised training in Housing First for Youth.
Our main Trainers’ Directory is also available in our Training section here.
Name: Melanie Schmit
LIMOR & Housing First Netherlands
Country: Netherlands
Languages: DutchEnglishMelanie Schmit’s entire working life has been about people in need, among which the biggest part has been in the field of homelessness. She studied social work, then completed…
Name: Peter Brepoels
Steunpunt Mens en Samenleving
Country: Belgium
Languages: DutchEnglishPeter started to work in youth and young adult care in the nineties, being focused on youth at risk of becoming homeless or young adults being homeless. At the…
Name: Thomas Lambrechts
Capuche asbl
Country: Belgium
Languages: FrenchDevelopment of associative project for more than 20 years. I have worked in the fields of culture, politics, sport/leisure and real estate. Investing 100% in HF4Y projects since 2021.
Name: Tomáš Novotný
Spolek PORTAVITA
Country: Czech Republic
Languages: CzechI started working in 2006 in a Halfway house Chamomile as a social worker and since the year 2013 an educator in a facility for children requiring immediate help…
Learn more
WEBINAR: Housing First for Youth
Youth experiencing homelessness have particular needs that require the adaptation of Housing First to meet those needs. Research from Canada and Europe on adaptations of Housing First is presented…
Check it out hereCategory: | Housing First for Youth (HF4Y)Train-the-Trainer: Housing First for Youth
Date: 13th – 15th of March 2023 Location: Lyon, France Cost: Own accommodation, travel, meals (except lunch) The Housing First Europe Hub is excited to announce its first Train…
Check it out hereCategory: | Housing First for Youth (HF4Y)Learning from Youth with Lived Experience to Realize Homelessness Prevention in Schools: Learnings from Tio’tiá:ke/Montréal
While schools can be a powerful site of homelessness prevention, they are also a potential site of harm for many young people, particularly youth with disabilities and mental health…
Check it out hereCategory: Article| PreventionYouth homelessness
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the implications of homelessness for young people?
What are the causes of youth homelessness?
Who is Housing First for Youth for?
How are youth different from the adult population in their housing needs?
What types of housing are provided in Housing First for Youth?
Can Housing First for Youth be used as a preventative measure?
How is Housing First for Youth different from other models of youth housing support?
What are the differences between Housing First for Youth and Housing First?
How does Housing First for Youth support education and employment for young people?
Other Resources:
Housing First for Youth Service Delivery Model – Online Training (The Homeless Learning Hub, Canada)
European Framework for Defining Youth Homelessness (FEANTSA, 2020)
Financing Youth Housing Solutions (FEANTSA Youth Homelessness Series, 2020)
Housing First for Youth Webinar (FEANTSA Youth Homelessness Series, 2020)
THIS is Housing First for Youth: A Program Model Guide Webinar (The Homeless Hub, Canada, 2018)
Limerick Youth Housing Evaluation Report (Focus Ireland, 2017)