Learning Together to Prevent Youth Homelessness
MACS was delighted to join our partners at Llamau for a two-day learning exchange focused on preventing youth homelessness.
Bringing organisations together to share practice, challenge ideas and learn from one another is essential if we are to build stronger systems of support for young people.
Sharing the Upstream Prevention Model
A key focus of the visit was sharing learning from LLamau’s Upstream prevention model, an early intervention approach designed to identify young people at risk of homelessness long before they reach crisis point.
Upstream works by partnering closely with schools to identify students who may be experiencing challenges at home, conflict within families, or early signs of housing instability. Through screening, early conversations and supportive interventions, young people and their families can access help before problems escalate.
The approach is rooted in early identification, family support and strong community partnerships.
Amanda McAteer, Upstream NI schools leader said, ‘It was a valuable couple of days with Llamau. We are at the beginning of our Upstream journey, so having the chance to listen and learn was hugely important. Collaboration like this will not only shape what comes next for us but also for youth homelessness in Northern Ireland. I’m excited about Upstream NI.’
Rather than waiting until a young person presents as homeless, Upstream focuses on:
- identifying risk early
- working with families to resolve conflict
- connecting young people with appropriate support services
- strengthening protective factors around the young person
Evidence from international programmes shows that prevention models like Upstream can significantly reduce youth homelessness while improving wellbeing, school engagement and long-term outcomes.
For MACS, this approach represents an important shift towards preventing homelessness before it begins.
Supporting Young People Experiencing Housing Instability
Alongside prevention work, the exchange also explored the wider range of services provided to young people experiencing housing instability, family breakdown and trauma.
This includes support for young people who are navigating complex circumstances and may need help finding stability, building confidence and reconnecting with education, training or employment.
Our work is grounded in trauma-informed and strengths-based practice, ensuring young people are supported with dignity, respect and choice as they move forward with their lives.
Learning Across Organisations
The learning exchange created valuable space for open discussion about what is working well, where challenges remain and how organisations can continue to adapt in response to rising need.
Preventing youth homelessness is complex. It requires collaboration, honesty and a shared commitment to doing better for young people.
We are extremely grateful to Llamau for the warm welcome and the opportunity to learn alongside one another.
When organisations share knowledge and practice, young people benefit.
Together, we move closer to a future without youth homelessness.