Why Prevention Matters
With Ciará Scollay, Head of Floating Support and Outreach Services
At MACS, we believe that preventing youth homelessness starts long before a young person loses their home. It begins with recognising the signs, and stepping in with the right support, at the right time.
For young people facing instability, the early warning signs can often be missed or misunderstood. That’s why early intervention is one of the most powerful tools we have. In this Q&A, Ciará Scollay, head of our floating and outreach support teams, shares insight into what puts young people at risk, how MACS responds before crisis hits, and what changes are needed to reach even more young people earlier.
This is what prevention looks like, compassionate, relational, and rooted in real-life experience.
Q: What early signs suggest a young person may be at risk of homelessness?
Youth homelessness is rarely the result of one single event, it’s usually caused by long-standing pressures that build up over time. These often stem from trauma, disconnection, or a lack of stable relationships and support. Early warning signs include family conflict, breakdown in communication at home, disengagement from school, poor mental health, substance use, and instability in housing.
Young people who are care leavers, involved in the justice system, or without a consistent adult in their life are at even greater risk. These signs highlight deeper unmet needs, and if we don’t act early, the risk of homelessness increases significantly.
Q: How does the MACS team step in before things reach crisis point?
Early intervention is at the heart of what we do in Floating and Outreach Support. Our team responds quickly when we see signs that a young person might be struggling, whether it’s emotional distress, unstable accommodation, or breakdowns at home.
We meet young people in spaces where they feel safe: at home, in school, or out in the community. Our support is tailored to them, flexible, consistent, and non-judgemental. We help them stay in safe housing or access it, prevent eviction, support family mediation, and build the skills needed to manage a tenancy. We also help with school, mental health, and navigating life’s daily challenges. It’s all about walking alongside them and giving them a sense of stability, confidence, and direction.
Q: What are the biggest challenges in delivering early intervention?
One of the biggest challenges is getting involved soon enough. By the time many young people are referred to us, they’re already in serious difficulty. This can be couch-surfing, out of school, or with nowhere safe to go. There’s a disconnect between when the signs start to show and when systems are able to act.
Housing is another major issue. Even when we identify a risk early, there can be delays in securing suitable, safe accommodation – especially if a young person doesn’t meet the threshold for statutory homelessness. On top of that, many young people face multiple challenges at once: trauma, mental health issues, and family breakdowns, all needing joined-up responses that aren’t always easy to coordinate.
Q: What would help MACS reach more young people earlier?
To intervene earlier and more effectively, we need to prioritise upstream interventions, especially in schools. Schools are often the first place where signs of housing instability or emotional stress appear. Teachers and staff are in a strong position to notice changes and raise concerns.
We also need more funding for flexible outreach and floating support that allows us to meet young people where they are, before they disengage completely. Early access to housing options and family mediation is vital. Better collaboration and information-sharing between schools, youth services, housing teams, and health professionals would make early responses stronger and more coordinated.
Lastly, longer-term funding models would allow us to build trusted relationships with young people that don’t rely on short-term targets or crisis-led funding. It’s those long-standing, consistent relationships that really help young people turn a corner.
Q: What’s the takeaway for people reading this? How can they help?
Preventing youth homelessness doesn’t start when a young person turns up at a housing office. It starts much earlier, with the people in their lives recognising the signs, asking questions, and knowing where to turn.
If you work with young people – in schools, youth clubs, social care, or health, stay alert to the early signs of housing instability. If you’re in a position to fund or influence services, invest in early, flexible, relational support. If you’re part of a community, talk about it. Raise awareness. Share resources. Make sure young people know it’s ok to ask for help.
Together, we can step in sooner.
We can stop homelessness before it starts.
We can make sure no young person slips through the cracks.
To find out more or refer a young person, visit our referral page