Every year on 10 October, World Homeless Day creates an opportunity to listen to people with lived experience, raise awareness and recognise the strengths and potential of young people experiencing homelessness.
A safe and stable home is one of our fundamental human givens. It provides the security from which we can build relationships, pursue opportunities, look after our wellbeing and shape our future. Without that foundation, it can be much harder to focus on education, employment or personal goals.
Homelessness is not limited to sleeping rough. Young people may be living in temporary accommodation, staying with friends or family, or remaining somewhere unsafe or unsuitable because they have no secure alternative.
These circumstances do not define who a young person is or what they can achieve. Young people experiencing homelessness bring their own talents, ambitions, experiences and resourcefulness. With access to safe housing and the right opportunities, they can build on those strengths and take meaningful steps towards the future they choose.
At YMCA South Midlands, we work alongside young people across Milton Keynes and Northamptonshire. We provide supported housing and access to practical and emotional support, life-skills development, education, training and employment guidance.
Our role is not simply to provide a roof. It is to create a supportive environment in which young people can recognise and build on their strengths, make their own choices and move towards greater independence with confidence.
World Homeless Day reminds us that housing is more than a physical space. A home can be a foundation for belonging, connection, wellbeing and opportunity as Zaid’s story shows.
For much of his life, Zaid experienced change and uncertainty.
Born in Zimbabwe, he spent his early childhood moving frequently while his father, an army doctor, was posted to different locations. Home was often temporary. When Zaid was five, his mum moved to the UK while he remained at boarding school. Two years later, his father brought him to England.
“When I came to the UK, it felt like I was meeting my parents for the first time.“
Having spent much of his childhood apart from them, Zaid found it difficult to develop strong relationships with his parents. They separated when he was ten and his father returned to Botswana. When his mum remarried four years later, life at home became increasingly challenging. Rather than feeling settled, Zaid counted down the years until he could begin an independent life.
At 18, he moved away to university and did not return home. After graduating, he began an apprenticeship in data analytics. When the role became more focused on finance than he had expected, Zaid decided it was not the right path for him. Looking for a fresh start, he travelled to Zimbabwe for what was intended to be a two-week holiday and stayed for three months.
When he returned to Milton Keynes, Zaid discovered that he had lost his rented room. Without somewhere secure to live, he spent several weeks staying on friends’ sofas and sleeping rough.
“I’d wake up and not know where I’d be sleeping that evening. I felt completely alone.“
Zaid regularly walked past YMCA’s Milton Keynes campus and decided to apply for accommodation. After checking his emails one day, he discovered that YMCA had been trying to contact him with an offer. Within a week, he met with a housing officer and moved into Stage 1 accommodation.
“The first thing I did was have a warm shower. Afterwards I was so relieved that I slept for almost an entire day.“
Having somewhere safe to live gave Zaid the space to pause, recover and begin thinking about his future. Although moving into YMCA initially felt daunting, positive relationships, shared meals and consistent routines helped him feel welcome and part of a community.
YMCA staff worked alongside Zaid as he strengthened his routines, managed his finances and maintained his tenancy. With encouragement from his key worker, Emma, he also completed six Cognitive Behavioural Therapy sessions through the Makewell Mental Wealth programme.
“It gave me the space to talk about things I’d carried with me since childhood and helped me understand why I think and react the way I do.“
Zaid then worked with YMCA Employment Coach Elliot to explore his skills and ambitions. Drawing on his ability to connect with others and solve problems, he secured a customer service role.
Today, Zaid takes pride in his reliability and enjoys working face-to-face with customers. While thriving in his current role, he remains focused on his longer-term ambition of returning to a career in data analytics.
Zaid’s story reflects his resilience, openness and determination. A safe home provided an important foundation, while his own strengths, choices and ambitions continue to shape his journey.
“When I first came to YMCA, I had no hope. Now I have hope for my future.“
Responding to homelessness requires more than short-term accommodation. It means recognising safe and affordable housing as an essential human need, while ensuring young people have access to the relationships, resources and opportunities that enable them to thrive.
Zaid’s story is a powerful reminder of what a stable home can make possible. It also demonstrates the talent, resilience and potential young people bring to their own journeys.
At YMCA South Midlands, we are committed to creating spaces where young people can belong, contribute and build the futures they want.