For many years a number of ordinary people have been offering a very extraordinary service to young homeless people who have found themselves vulnerable because they have nowhere to live. 

The service is simple - people offer a young person a bed for the night in their own house, they provide, food, and the opportunity for the young person to bathe and wash clothes. They also offer a sympathetic ear or just the space to relax.

These people are called Nightstop Hosts and they are volunteers who are trained and supported by a local Nightstop Project. Nightstops are set up by groups such as churches, voluntary organisations, or groups of people who have a keen interest in the welfare of young people. 

The first Nightstop was set up in Leeds in the mid-eighties by local churches. Leeds at that time had a terrible youth homelessness problem in the city and a number of church members were already taking in homeless youngsters into their homes off of their own bat. They decided it would be better and safer if they set up an organisation to offer supervision and support. There is now a national network of Nightstops providing support to young people all over the country.

Young people aged 16-25 are referred to Nightstop through BYHP or local agencies who work with young people. The young person is interviewed and a risk assessment is carried out, where necessary references are sought and sometimes a police check. Nightstop cannot take people with serious criminal records or those with alcohol or drug problems or chronic mental illness.

Once the young person has passed the referral process and a host has been found they are taken to the host’s home by a worker or volunteer driver.  The young person does not have to pay anything towards transport or the night stay or food. They do however have to sign up to a standard set of rules and any additional rules the host may have. These rules contain agreements that the young person will not bring friends around, disclose the address of the host to anyone else, not use alcohol or drugs and not to return to the hosts home unless they have been placed there by a Nightstop worker.

The following day the young person is picked up and taken back to the referral office where the referrer helps the young person to return home through contacting the family and by offering mediation. If that is not possible the young person is referred to the council for emergency accommodation and if necessary offered further Nightstop placements.

Young people end up homeless for a variety of reasons. One of the main reasons is family conflict which often starts when the children are quite young and comes to a head when the child reaches 16. Often families have problems because of traumatic changes such as divorce and new step–parents or partners coming in to the family. Society has changed over the years and the pressures on young people to have changed. Where young people once were to be seen and not heard, now they have to be seen wearing the right clothes and heard playing the right music. Pressure comes from their peers, parents, school and especially the media. Of course parents too are under greater pressure not least financially.

Hosts are mainly although not exclusively recruited through churches. The main criteria are that they want to help young people; they must like them and have an empathy with them, they must have a spare room. Hosts are volunteers so they do not get paid, although expenses can be claimed towards food costs and other agreed out of pocket expenses. Hosts agree to house the young people in their homes, without charge and to provide them with a bed in their own room, not to ask young people to do chores and not to ask questions of the young people.

Why would you do such a thing? Most hosts would say that they get a lot out of hosting, not only from helping a young person but also from learning about others experiences. Young people mostly are happy to talk and often hosts have meaningful conversations.

Before becoming a host application forms have to be filled in, references sought (including one from your doctor) and a Criminal Record Check has to be made. We have to be sure that young vulnerable people are safe just has we have to ensure our hosts' safety. After interviews and a home visit, potential hosts are then given initial training which will include information on the homeless laws, child protection, health and safety, how to talk to young people and first aid. After training they will then be ready to be a host.

Whilst a host has a young person in their home a staff member is always on 24hr call. Training and support will be on-going. There will always be someone to talk to if the host has concerns or issues that they want to discuss.

Hosts are free to decide when they are available to host, they can always say no and they won’t be asked to give a reason.

More information

If you would like to be a host or would just like some more information please contact BYHP on 01295 259 442. They are holding an open evening in Banbury on Wednesday 15 May where people can gather more information about Nightstop and meet a current host.

Spread the word

BYHP are anticipating a surge in the need for Nightstop hosts over the next 6 to 12 months and we need to act now to ensure that young people do not have to spend time on the streets. Please help spread the word by printing off the attached poster for your local noticeboards.