Do you know your rights?
Tuesday 20 June 2006
Music's rising star Lady Sovereign is supporting a campaign to make young people aware of their rights if their home is under threat.
According to homeless charity Shelter, almost half of 16 to 25 year olds don't know where to turn when they face housing problems.
Help and advice
Shelter's Know Your Rights site offers in-depth practical and legal advice and support for young people on loads of different housing problems, from dealing with dodgy landlords or poor conditions to help with money matters like tenancy deposits. You can also get advice over email.
Young people at risk
The main aim of the Know Your Rights campaign is to hold back rising homelessness amongst young people who are less likely to seek advice on housing issues.
Young people are particularly at risk when it comes to bad housing and are more likely to go through homelessness than the rest of the population.
The Sov speaks
Originally hailing from the Chalkhill estate in north west London, top grime MC Lady Sovereign has experienced homelessness herself.
"I was kicked out of the room I shared with my sister and had to sleep on various floors. I felt really lost and alone with nowhere to turn," she tells us.
Sovereign support
Lady Sovereign is supporting the campaign because she says she hopes it will "help young people which will not only alert them to the fact that they have rights in the first place but actually what to do with those rights to avoid ending up in a crisis."
Lady Sov has got high hopes that one day homelessness is a problem that no young person will have to face in the future. "Hopefully through the campaign young people ending up with nowhere to call home will become a thing of the past."
The truth about homelessness
Homelessness isn't just about sleeping rough on the streets; it can affect all kinds of people. You may have a roof over your head, yet your housing situation may not be secure. Maybe you're sleeping on a mate's sofa or have managed to get yourself a place to stay temporarily.
If you're homeless or in a temporary living situation that's making you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, you should speak to someone and get help as soon as you can.
Getting help
Take a look around n2k's Housing section for names and details of organisations that can help you find a safer place to stay. Connexions Direct advisers should also be able to give you help and advice.
