The district council has joined forces with Foundation – a charity giving housing support to young single people across the North of England – to set up Home Street Home.

Aimed at young people aged 16 or under, the scheme provides them with information about the reality of homelessness and the value of mediation to prevent it arising.

family breakdown

"Many people leave home every year simply because they don't feel they can stay there any longer," said Neville Huxtable, Hambleton's cabinet member for housing.

"One of the main reasons given for moving out is family breakdown, with family members unable to talk and listen to each other.

"Through this scheme we will be going into schools and youth clubs as well as anywhere young people meet to try and make them see that living away from home is not easy, however difficult things may seem at home.

"But if they really feel they have no option but to leave home we can provide them with a safe place to live while helping them work through their issues which will hopefully lead to a return to the family home."

wider service

Home Street Home is only one part of a much wider service offered to young people.

A young person's worker is available at the council offices at the Civic Centre in Northallerton every Wednesday, between 10am and noon, to chat in confidence to any young people about their situations at home.

Information is also available by calling 01845 522222, or going to the website www.homestreethome.co.uk