Often one of the first things people will associate with YMCA, it is interesting to note that in Scotland the organisation does not provide accommodation for tourists. All the accommodation provided by the YMCA in Scotland exists purely to serve vulnerable young people and families who are in need of a home and/or in need of significant levels of support.
This provision provides a number of important services to homeless young people mainly between the ages of 16-25 years.
Supported Housing
For a homeless young person or for a family of asylum seekers newly arrived in Scotland organizing and managing accommodation can be a huge challenge. YMCA recognises that issues of confidence, mental health, language and knowledge can all present barriers to managing life in a home. As such YMCA accommodation across Scotland will in most cases provide significant support to residents including:
• Independent living skills
• Employability and training programmes
• Social and community integration programmes
• Issue based programmes dealing with, for example, drug and alcohol misuse
Some YMCA programmes provide a comprehensive support package to homeless young people working with them to obtain accommodation and to sustain that tenancy from that point on.
YMCA accommodation can take many forms providing safe and secure accommodation in housing ranging from large multi-unit facilities to smaller units to individual units for those moving on to independent living flats.
Common across all our housing services is the desire to establish these young people on a path to healthy personal development, employment and self respect.
Refugee and Asylum Seekers
In the greater Glasgow area YMCA provides reception, support and accommodation services to over 600 refugee and asylum seeker families. YMCA also provides accommodation for young unaccompanied refugees, until they turn 18 or until they receive confirmation of the decision on their asylum claim.
In addition to the housing provision a wide range of support services is provided by YMCA Glasgow for these families including English, computer and fitness classes, drop-in facilities and a range of structured educational and recreational programmes.
For more information on this programme please follow the link http://www.ymcaglasgow.org/