Policy Workshop:
Housing in young adulthood: Changing choices, constraints and challenges
Date and time: 12th September 2017, 13:45-18:30
Location: Places for People, 80 Cheapside, London, EC2V 6EE
Young adulthood is a dynamic life phase and the housing position of young people has changed dramatically in recent decades. New choices concerning education, work, relationships and lifestyles have combined with the constraints imposed by low incomes, economic insecurity, curtailed welfare support and enhanced problems of housing access to reduce young adults’ homeownership and increase their reliance on private renting and the parental home. These trends have major implications for young people’s everyday lives, long-term housing careers and the future social and economic structure of British society.
This afternoon workshop will bring together academics, policy professionals and stakeholders to (1) share and discuss the latest evidence about young adults’ housing and (2) debate key policy challenges and solutions concerning housing in young adulthood. The workshop is organised under the auspices of an Economic and Social Research Council project on Family Trajectories and Young Adults’ Housing Transitions.
This event is by invitation only. If you would like to find out more about the event, please email s.bayrakdar@ucl.ac.uk.
Preliminary Programme:
13:45-14:00 Registration and refreshments
14:00-14:15 Welcome and aims
Rory Coulter and Sait Bayrakdar
14:15-15:45 Session 1: Contemporary trends and challenges
Increased private renting in early adulthood together with the growing fluidity and uncertainty of young peoples’ lives have a range of implications for housing demands and experiences. This session will explore the everyday housing challenges facing contemporary young adults, as well as their implications for policy and practice.
14:15-14:45 Short expert presentations
“Problems and challenges in the housing market: An introduction”
David Cowans/Roger Wilshaw, Places for People
“Austerity and inequalities in transitions to adulthood”
Ann Berrington, University of Southampton
“Homelessness, young people and ‘sofa surfing’”
Anna Clarke, University of Cambridge
“Housing transitions in young adulthood”
Sait Bayrakdar, UCL
14:45-15:45 Open chaired discussion
15:45-16:00 Coffee break
16:00-17:30 Session 2: Housing futures
Enhanced difficulties entering owner-occupation and the social rental sector are reshaping young people’s ability to access secure, affordable and high quality accommodation. This session will discuss the longer term implications of young adults’ changing housing arrangements, paying particular attention to issues of intergenerational justice, social mobility and housing inequality.
16:00-16:30 Short expert presentations
“Housing and intergenerational equity”
Lindsay Judge, Resolution Foundation
“Parental background and young adults’ housing”
Rory Coulter, UCL
“Housing, poverty and young people”
Michael Oxley, University of Cambridge
“Housing Policies to tackle intergenerational inequality”
Andy Green, UCL
16:30-17:30 Open chaired discussion
17:30- 17:45 Concluding reflections
Rory Coulter, UCL
Sian Berry, London Assembly
17:45-18:30 Close followed by drinks reception
Families and housing tenure in young adulthood 