News & Blogs
6th July 2026What Corey Taught Me About Youth Homelessness
Written by Rachelle, Accommodation Manager
When people think about homelessness, they often picture someone sleeping rough on a city street.
But for many of the young people I meet at Simon Community, homelessness looks very different.
It can begin quietly.
A relationship at home breaks down. A sofa offered by a friend becomes a few nights in a spare room. A young person finds themselves moving between places, trying not to be a burden, hoping things will improve. Then, suddenly, there is nowhere left to go.
As Accommodation Manager at our young people’s temporary accommodation service in North Belfast, I work with young people aged 16 to 21 who have found themselves in exactly that situation.
Many arrive from small towns and communities across Northern Ireland. They’re often far from the places they’ve grown up, the people they know, and the routines that once made them feel safe. For some, it is the first time they have been away from home.
What strikes me most is that homelessness doesn’t define them.
They’re young people with ambitions, talents, interests and potential. Yet often they arrive carrying an enormous weight that no young person should have to carry alone.
When I think about this, I often think about Corey.
Corey was 17 when he came to our service. Like many young people, he had imagined a future that involved work, independence and building a life for himself. Homelessness wasn’t part of the plan.
By the time he arrived, he was exhausted and uncertain about what would happen next. Although he hadn’t travelled far geographically, he was suddenly separated from everything familiar.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in this job is that meaningful change rarely happens overnight.
When young people first arrive, they don’t always need answers straight away. Often, they need safety. They need time. They need somewhere they can close a door, take a breath and know they won’t be judged.
At first, Corey kept to himself. Gradually, though, things began to change.
The conversations got longer. His confidence started to grow. We began to see the person behind the uncertainty: kind, thoughtful, funny and full of potential.
These moments can seem small from the outside, but they’re often the beginning of something much bigger. When a young person starts to feel safe, they can begin to imagine a future again.
Today, Corey is working full-time and living independently in a Simon Community Creating Homes property.
His journey is a reminder that homelessness is not the end of someone’s story.
Given the right support, stability and opportunity, young people can rebuild their confidence, achieve their goals and create futures that once felt impossible.
For me, that’s the most important lesson Corey taught me: never underestimate what can happen when a young person is given the chance to feel safe, supported and believed in.
Every young person deserves that chance.
Corey’s story is one of many.
Every week, our teams support people facing homelessness across Northern Ireland. By their stories we hope to shed light on the realities of homelessness, challenge misconceptions and highlight the difference that the right support can make.
Whether you’d like to learn more about our work, read more stories from the people we support, or stay up to date with the latest news and insights from Simon Community, we’d love to stay connected.
