Homewards Sheffield pilot demonstrates how employment support can help young people build stability

Future Forward, a Homewards-backed project in South Yorkshire, has helped 24 young people experiencing homelessness or living in supported housing move into employment, exceeding its original target of 16 young people within just nine months.

The pilot, delivered by YWCA Yorkshire and Sheffield Foyer, was designed to help young people overcome barriers that can make finding and sustaining employment difficult. Alongside supporting young people directly into work, the project also carried out research to better understand the challenges they face when entering employment.

Funded through the Homewards Fund and Opportunity Sheffield, Future Forward tested a new approach that combines employment support with practical financial assistance, helping young people take up work without risking access to the support they rely on.

Understanding the barriers to employment

The research found that many young people living in supported housing are keen to work, but often face a range of barriers that can make employment feel financially risky or difficult to sustain.

These barriers include:

• Concerns about losing financial support when moving into work
• The cost of supported housing
• Digital exclusion and navigating unfamiliar online employment systems
• Mental health challenges
• Housing insecurity and low confidence

A key finding was that young people can sometimes be left financially worse off when moving into employment due to the way earnings, Housing Benefit and supported housing costs interact. The research suggests this can create an unintended barrier to employment, even for young people who are highly motivated to work.

Building confidence and creating opportunities

To tackle these challenges, Future Forward embedded employment and financial support directly into supported housing settings. As well as helping to reduce financial barriers, the programme provided practical support with applying for jobs, preparing for interviews, understanding contracts and settling into employment.

The research found that when this trusted, relationship-based support was available, young people reported increased confidence, better mental wellbeing, stronger routines and a greater sense of self-worth and independence.

Future Forward was supported through the Homewards Fund, which helps local Homewards locations deliver innovative projects that can prevent homelessness. The pilot demonstrates how practical employment, housing and financial support can work together to remove barriers that prevent young people from moving on from homelessness.

As Homewards continues to test and scale innovative local solutions, the learnings from Future Forward will help inform future approaches to supporting young people into employment and building long-term housing stability.