Croydon STOP (Short Time Out Project) is a joint project developed with London Borough of Croydon for 16 and 17 year olds, as an alternative to 'Bed and Breakfast'. The project comprises a fully staffed 13 bed property in Croydon centre where we work alongside young people and their families to access a range of services that help address the causes of their homelessness.
Being homeless at 16 or 17 is far from ideal, even if young people are incredibly resilient in our experience. Its a critical time and CAYSH aim to provide the stability that most people take for granted at this time in life.
The project, just like the original STOP in Sutton, is an intervention that uses accommodation as a tool. We aim to reunite families and young people under one roof again - but also recognise that for some this will not be possible. Family mediation is a key tool we use to improve situations, along with a host of other services.
The project's proactive nature makes the accommodation a working facility with a daily schedule of planned meetings aimed at moving young people on so they can best fulfil their potential.
Where returning home is not possible, Croydon Council and CAYSH work together to identify the best housing solution going forward to support their continued education, training or employment.
