Preventing homelessness and reducing repeat homelessness among vulnerable young people in Devon was a priority within the Devon County Council Local Public Service Agreement 2.  The stretched target that the DCLG set was for Devon to reduce statutory homeless acceptances for 16-17 year olds and care leavers aged between 18-21 by half over a three year period which ended on the 31st March 2008.  The project was extremelly successful with homelessness acceptances reduced from 382 in April 2005 to 191 in March 2008.  

The success of the target has resulted in better outcomes for young people and a reward grant for Devon in excess of 1 million pounds.  The DSHG, in partnership with the Devon Children's Trust are working together to evaluate the project and ensure the reward is invested in the continued prevention of youth homelessness.  A copy of the evaluation will be available on this page once complete.