Methodology

This research sought to engage with over 40 young people that have experienced homelessness and understand the issues and barriers facing young people at risk of or currently homelessness.

A work plan was agreed between NIHE, Health and Social Care Board, Housing Rights NI and NIYF with a two-stage approach developed to ‘scope web presence requirements’ that involved:

• Supporting the Youth Apprentices to undertake desk-based scoping exercise of information available online in relation to homelessness

• To design and conduct peer ‘focus groups’ throughout NI to assess the accessibility, suitability and quality of current information relating to homelessness prevention, including identification of gaps/areas of good practice etc.

Only one of the planned sessions was completed before social distancing measures were implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In order to gather feedback from the remaining young people, Zoom focus groups were held with young people regionally across NI:

• Action for Children, Omagh & Fermanagh (In person) • Ards & North Down Borough Youth Council • NIYF Amplify group, Ballymena • NI Housing Executive Youth Forum Group, Belfast • Include Youth ‘Give & Take’, Derry/Londonderry

This required a unique approach in engaging partner organisations to support the research using pre-existing groups to participate. Moreover, the Youth Apprentices reconfigured the focus groups to an online format and with the support of the assigned mentor utilised online whiteboards (Mural) to record interactions.

ONLINE FOCUS GROUPS