Depaul UK has purchased the building housing London’s only dedicated emergency accommodation service for young people, securing its future with a £1 million grant from The Julia Rausing Trust
For a young person facing homelessness, finding somewhere safe to sleep can be the first step towards rebuilding their life. In London, the Youth Hub offers exactly that: emergency accommodation, tailored support, and people who are ready to help young Londoners move away from rough sleeping for good.
Emergency accommodation for young Londoners
The Hub is London’s only dedicated emergency accommodation service for young people at risk of sleeping rough. Depaul UK has run the service since 2022 in partnership with New Horizon Youth Centre, supporting almost 400 young people on their journey away from homelessness.
“Without this purchase, London risked losing its only dedicated emergency accommodation service for young people,” said Alexia Murphy, Chief Executive Officer at Depaul UK.
“The Julia Rausing Trust has not simply helped us buy a building; it has protected a proven route away from the streets for hundreds of young Londoners.”
Funded by the Greater London Authority and supported by the Mayor of London, the Hub provides 26 emergency bedspaces for people aged 18 to 24 who are experiencing, or at risk of, rough sleeping. Alongside a safe place to stay, young people receive intensive, age-appropriate support and help to plan their next step into longer-term accommodation.
Helping young people move beyond rough sleeping
Between April 2025 and March 2026, the Hub supported 106 young people. Of those who moved on, 96 per cent were not recorded as returning to rough sleeping within six months.
Recent Greater London Authority CHAIN statistics also show a welcome 30 per cent fall in the number of 18 to 25-year-olds recorded sleeping rough in London between April and June 2026, compared with the same period last year.
“No single service can account for that progress,” Alexia said, “but the Hub is an important part of the capital’s response.”
The Hub aims to help young people move into longer-term housing within 56 days. During that time, staff work alongside them on the issues that can make homelessness harder to escape, including mental health, education, employment, training and immigration advice.
Support from The Julia Rausing Trust and New Horizon Youth Centre
Simon Fourmy, Chief Executive Officer of The Julia Rausing Trust, said:
“Julia was passionate about helping people facing disadvantage and believed that timely support could help someone move out of crisis and change the course of their life. The London Youth Hub embodies that approach, combining immediate safety with practical, personalised support that helps young people find a route out of homelessness.”
Meghan Roach, Interim Chief Executive at New Horizon Youth Centre, said:
“Youth homelessness and rough sleeping is a specific problem that needs specific solutions. The Youth Hub is one such solution, and a vital and in-demand service. By working in partnership with Depaul UK we’re able to deliver sustainable, transformative outcomes, ending young people’s homelessness for good.”
She added that “a room isn’t enough”. Young people also need wraparound support to avoid falling into the cycle of homelessness and build towards independent living.
The service began as a 15-month pilot in 2021, before the current 26-bed Hub opened in 2022. Its future is now protected, helping ensure more young Londoners can find safety, support and a route towards a home of their own.