‘A psychologically informed environment (PIE) approach to living independently…’
02.12.2022: Writing this week’s PIE blog**, as the lead for Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE), at the national youth homeless charity; Centrepoint, I have the absolute pleasure of handing over the blog to my two colleagues from Centrepoint’s ‘Independent Living Programme — ILP’ — Lorri Holding (Head of Independent Living Programme) and Ella Munns (Independent Living Project Manager). It has been a busy period for the ILP team, with two significant landmarks for this project. The first was the fundraising event on Monday evening (28th November 2022) at the iconic Lyric Theatre in London’s West End entitled ‘Judy — No Place Like Home’ in aid of Centrepoint’s ILP and the second was hosting the first viewings with young people at our flagship development ‘Reuben House’ in Southwark, South East London (see PIE blog picture above).
Specifically, with regard to the fundraising event, it was wonderful to see a whole host of celebrities, including Mica Paris, Gina Beck, Sadie Frost, Rosie Jones, Bonnie Langford, Lisa Maxwell, Carly Paoli, Frances Ruffell, Chizzy Akudolu, Jessica Hynes, Tamzin Outhwaite, Tom Read-Wilson, and Matt Goss attending (c.f. https://twitter.com/centrepointuk/status/1597303292090265600) and performing alongside some inspirational young people from Centrepoint (c.f. https://twitter.com/centrepointuk/status/1597314659480383488). Judy Garland was an LGBTQ+ icon, and someone who experienced homelessness, poverty and poor mental health, and therefore Centrepoint wanted to celebrate what would have been Judy Garland’s 100th birthday! Fitting to Centrepoint’s work, particularly with regard to creating a ‘home’ or a psychologically informed environment (PIE), Judy Garland was someone that highlighted that ‘we are all just trying to find a place to belong — happiness is ours if we can just make it Over the Rainbow!’ (c.f. https://twitter.com/centrepointuk/status/1597371218398965761). Funds raised on the night will go towards expanding Centrepoint ILP, which hopes to provide 300 young people with affordable homes, and an apprenticeship or job. Both crucial in ending youth homelessness by 2037. Consequently, what is Centrepoint’s Independent Living Programme and how does this relate to a PIE? Over to Ella and Lorri to explain further…
This month marks the completion of Centrepoint’s Independent Living Programme (ILP)’s flagship development, Reuben House. We have been considering how a psychologically informed environment or PIE approach plays a significant part in how Centrepoint young people transition positively from supported accommodation, or sadly, precarious, unsafe housing, on to Centrepoint’s bespoke living offer independently. The Ruben House development provides 33 modular homes for under 25-year olds experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness in Peckham, Southwark, and is the first in a number of other planned projects within London and Manchester (typically hot spots of youth homelessness and unaffordable housing).
We understand that key ingredients to Centrepoint’s goal of ending youth homelessness is the provision of a ‘home and a job’, which will move the young people we work with towards true independence and allows each young person to build strong building blocks towards the future of their choice. Therefore, the ILP, and its accommodation offer, is predicated on all applicants actively accessing full time work or an apprenticeship scheme for the duration of their independent living journey.
Lack of affordable housing for young people in major cities is at crisis point nationally, and has been for some time (see previous Centrepoint Blog on this subject back in 2019 here: https://centrepoint.org.uk/about-us/blog/homes-for-the-future-why-young-people-s-housing-needs-should-be-taken-seriously-this-election/). Consequently, the Centrepoint ILP caps a young person’s rent at a third of their salary allowing tenants to enjoy a good standard of living, removes the risk of then falling into rent arrears, and gives them the opportunity to save some of their income for their next housing move. Moreover, for homeless young people progressing from supported accommodation services, their experience of a scaled back support system will be a major change for them. Whilst the ILP is designed for homeless young people who are ready to live independently, and have been assessed as having no or low support needs to ensure they are able to do this, their previous lived experience and instability of past homelessness will undoubtedly continue to impact them (e.g. trauma, mental health, relational trust issues, social exclusion).
Consequently, support is available when needed (see below) as we recognise supporting previously homeless young people in a psychologically informed way, prior to living independently, equips each of them with the tools to enable them to better manage their present and future lives. PIE skills or tools are not just building blocks of emotional recognition and management linked to a theory; they play a live and integral role in a young person’s future selves and their ‘forever lives’. For example, there is a focus on supporting the young person’s active recovery from the experience of homelessness through shining a spotlight on their strengths in order that they can gain a greater appreciation in themselves, their relationships and their wider environment. Of course, supporting those seeking a safe space to live will always be a great thing to do, however we acknowledge that just having a ‘roof over your head’ is not the sole solution to improving the lives of the young people entering the ILP. It is part of the answer, but not the whole answer. Young people in the ILP still have access to psychologically informed support so that they can understand the potential depth of their previous trauma and are therefore in a better position to prevent future issues, ensuring they have the skills to sustain a tenancy and employment in the future.
In particular, Reuben House is one of a portfolio of ILP developments in London and Manchester, with other similar projects in the pipeline. Holding in mind PIE, ensures that within this project we are promoting the importance of building positive relationships and recognising the effect environments can have to promote positive psychological benefit (c.f. Keats et al, 2012 — PIE Good Practice Guide: https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/340022/1/Good%2520practice%2520guide%2520-%2520%2520Psychologically%2520informed%2520services%2520for%2520homeless%2520people%2520.pdf). Centrepoint is committed to building safe and secure communities, where previously homeless young people are ‘good’ neighbours and enjoy peer to peer support from others experiencing similar journeys to them. We are also committed to developing high quality accommodation that young people can be proud to call ‘home’ and wherein they can gain invaluable skills each day that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
ILP communities therefore encourage the young people that are resident to build their own support networks whist protecting their boundaries. Being part of a ground breaking transformational programme that addresses youth homelessness at scale, gives a feeling of being part of something much bigger — a sense of pioneering a new way of stepping into independence together. Moreover, again as per a PIE, tenant empowerment and co-production opportunities are a vital part of the ILP offer, ensuring that young people feel and see that they have a voice that can shape their communities.
In addition, the 33 self-contained units at Reuben House are psychologically informed in their environmental design, in that they are not just a safe and functional ‘home’, but are also stylish and contemporary, with considered appropriate space standards. Each flat, whilst standard in layout, has a themed colour scheme across the development, ensuring that each ‘home’ is unique to its neighbours. Picture hooks are in place to allow tenants to personalise their homes, and each development has beautiful exterior communal landscaped spaces, again created to encourage positive interaction with neighbours.
Of course, with the focus on independence, it is important to acknowledge that this may be the first time in their lives that these previously homeless young people have minimal day to day or onsite support from staff. There are no more monthly key-work sessions with support staff, and no more ‘house rules or responsibilities’ in the same way as in a supported accommodation service. This can be equally liberating as well as uncomfortable or unsettling for some young people. As a result (as noted above) we don’t just discontinue all support to a group that might have a history of traumatic experiences, instead our ILP has a team of experienced Housing Officers on hand to ensure that the transition is successful, with regular onsite visits throughout each young person’s independent living journey.
As a result, as per the fundamental principle of PIE, the Centrepoint PIE staff support, reflective practice and training offer is also available to the ILP Team. Staff have all attended the PIE day and have access to the full range of PIE modules offered in Centrepoint to equip them with the PIE tools and skills needed in working with young people in the ILP. Working with young people who have experienced trauma can be emotionally challenging for staff, and therefore the ILP team as per any of Centrepoint’s frontline staff, have access to monthly reflective practice sessions, facilicated by a PIE Team clinical psychologist. These sessions provide time and a psychologically safe space to explore and reflect upon their practice and any challenges, and share their experiences with other ILP staff.
In addition to their ILP Housing Officer, each young person is also allocated a volunteer Independent Living Advisor (ILA), who are trained to offer ‘light touch’ psychologically informed support. Each ILA relationship is led by the young person, and their presenting needs or challenges. For example, they may need some help settling into their new home, exploring their new community and environment, move on or career advice, or perhaps, simply to know that a ‘professional friend’ will call them once a week for a supportive conversation. We understand that this new found responsibility and independence may naturally bring unplanned issues. Managing a tenancy for the first time, looking after a home, and managing a full time job may be overwhelming or a lot to get used to initially. Therefore, young people living within the ILP, are provided with both the space and freedom to acclimatise to their new situation as well as with the knowledge that they can reach out to their ILA or Housing Officer for signposting if they are struggling or need some encouragement.
For young people living in an ILP property, we know that this offer comes with an increased level of responsibility; each tenant is expected to comply with their tenancy agreement and the terms therein. However, the ILP is designed and run to be a safe, managed environment, providing a first taste at true independence, wherein valuable lessons in how to manage future housing options can be practiced before ILP tenants graduate to their own properties outside Centrepoint. As a result, applications for applications for ILP properties are assessed carefully to ensure only those who can demonstrate they are ready to live independently are offered a place onto the programme — we do not want to set anybody up to fail. Therefore, an ILP offer should be the last stop before young people leave Centrepoint forever — consequently, from time to time, some of those that apply but are not accepted initially can reapply when they can demonstrate that they are ready and have a positive track record in full-time paid work or an apprenticeship. There is no limit to the number of applications a young person can make to the ILP, instead the focus is on making any move to the ILP a success and a positive experience prior to moving onto ‘forever homes’ beyond Centrepoint.
Finally, we think that the ILP offer is a truly transformational programme, playing a key role in our wider strategy to #EndYouthHomelessness by 2037. However, Centrepoint cannot do this alone. We want to promote this psychologically informed housing model and encourage other housing providers, local authorities, and/or developers to consider this approach in order to create a national movement for change in the housing sector. We want others to work with us to be that change. Therefore, if you want to find out more about how and why we are doing this, or come and see the ILP for yourself or refer a young person into the ILP, then please get in touch! You can find more information on our website here: https://centrepoint.org.uk/what-we-do/independent-living-programme/ or please do contact us via Ella Munns (ILP Manager at e.munns@centrepoint.org)’.
** With many thanks to Ella Munns (ILP Manager) and Lorri Holding (Head of ILP) for their contributions.
