MACS Launches Upstream

This year, as MACS celebrates 35 years of supporting young people across Northern Ireland, we are proud to launch Upstream, a new and pioneering approach that aims to stop youth homelessness before it begins.

For decades, services like ours have worked tirelessly to help young people rebuild after crisis, after they have lost their home, dropped out of school, or started to lose hope. But too often, that support begins only once the damage is already done.

Upstream changes that.

Putting prevention first

Upstream  is all about getting ahead of the crisis. Instead of waiting until a young person reaches breaking point, it identifies those who might be struggling early while there is still time to help.

The service works directly with schools across Northern Ireland. Young people are invited to complete a short, confidential survey that helps identify early warning signs such as family stress, housing instability, low wellbeing, or disengagement from school.

When those signs are spotted, trained Upstream workers step in early. They listen without judgement and build trust with young people and families. The support offered depends on what is needed most. It could be family mediation, mentoring, wellbeing support, housing advice, or simply being a steady, caring presence in a young person’s life.

The difference is timing.

Upstream acts before crisis, helping young people stay in school, strengthen relationships, and protect their dignity. It gives them the tools and confidence not just to survive, but to truly thrive.

Evidence that prevention works

Upstream is based on the proven Geelong Project model from Australia. The Geelong Project is an evidence-based approach that focuses on early identification and intervention to reduce youth homelessness and early school leaving.

Early evidence from the Geelong pilot area showed a 40% reduction in adolescent homelessness and a 20% drop in early school leaving among participating schools (The Geelong Project Interim Report, 2016–2017).

Similar early intervention models in Scotland, Wales, and England have found that around 1 in 10 young people display risk factors for homelessness, and most were not known to existing services.

Professor Peter Mackie, leading international expert in housing and homelessness, said:

“It is wonderful to see the launch of Upstream in Northern Ireland. This collaborative initiative between schools and support services, first developed in Australia, has already shown great success in preventing homelessness and strengthening educational engagement. Bringing this innovative approach here has taken significant effort and international collaboration, and I hope it will now deliver life-changing benefits for young people and their families.”

Earlier this year, MACS’ Head of Floating Support and Outreach Services, Ciará Scollay, travelled to Canada to see the model in action.

“What I witnessed there was life-changing. Schools, families, and services were working together in practical, compassionate ways. I came home convinced this model is not just innovative, it is achievable, and it is urgently needed here in Northern Ireland.”

Why Northern Ireland needs Upstream

The numbers speak for themselves. Last year, nearly 17,000 households in Northern Ireland presented as homeless. As of November 2024, more than 5,300 children were living in temporary accommodation.

Behind every statistic is a young person whose life has been disrupted and a future put on hold.

At MACS, we believe fewer young people should ever have to reach crisis point in the first place. Prevention saves lives, saves money, and saves futures.

Working together to make change

Upstream  only works when everyone plays their part. Schools, health services, housing providers, families, and communities must work together as one connected system.

As Ciara shared at the launch event:

“Real prevention takes a whole-systems approach. It means everyone playing their part early and consistently so no young person falls through the cracks.”

With collaboration and shared commitment, we can make early intervention the norm across Northern Ireland and give every young person the chance to grow up safe, supported, and hopeful.

About MACS

For 35 years, MACS has supported young people aged 16 to 25 who are homeless, leaving care, or at risk of losing their home. Everything we do is driven by our vision of an end to youth homelessness in Northern Ireland, and by our values of compassion, empowerment, and resilience.

Upstream represents the next chapter in that journey, a smarter and more compassionate way to create lasting change.