Early Intervention

Homelessness rarely happens without warning.

It is often linked to challenges such as relationship breakdown, poor mental health, addiction, poverty, isolation or major life transitions. That's why our early intervention services focus on supporting people before a crisis escalates, helping them build stability, resilience and stronger connections.

We work alongside people at key transition points, including young people leaving care, school or home, and people leaving hospital, residential rehabilitation, the armed forces or prison. By providing support early, we can help prevent homelessness before it starts.

Supporting Recovery from Addiction

Addiction can affect every aspect of a person's life, from relationships and wellbeing to housing and employment. Our recovery services help people build confidence, strengthen support networks and take positive steps towards a more stable future whether they are accessing support for alcohol or drugs misuse, or gambling.

During 2025/26:

• 378 people experiencing substance addiction received support.
• We delivered 211 activities and events, including peer-to-peer support.
• We recorded more than 30,000 individual interactions, helping people access ongoing support and connection.
• 36 people received direct support for gambling addiction, with a further six people participating in group support sessions.
• 114 professionals attended gambling harm awareness training, enabling them to better identify and respond to gambling-related harm in their communities.

Supporting Families to Stay Connected

Relationship breakdown remains one of the most significant drivers of youth homelessness. That's why we support young people, parents and carers to build stronger relationships, manage conflict constructively and stay connected through challenging times.

Through our Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution and Mediation services we help families develop the skills, confidence and understanding needed to navigate conflict before it reaches crisis point.

In my work as an impact coach, I now use Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution resources with a range of people, from school children to CEOs. Turns out you're never too old to learn about yourself. By focusing on connection, not conflict, we can build resilience both in ourselves and in the generations to come.

Dr Vanessa Collingridge, broadcaster, writer and impact coach

In 2025/26:

• 286 young people strengthened their conflict management and resolution skills.
• 639 parents and carers took part in training and support sessions.
• 10 fathers in prison received one-to-one parenting support whilst a further 70 particiated in bonding visits helping them maintain meaningful relationships with their children.
• 1,353 professionals received conflict resolution training.
• 80 professionals took part in positive parenting training.
• Supported 72 families providing mediation
• 184 people received whole family support

Our support focuses on helping families strengthen relationships, improve communication and access the support they need during times of change.

By helping families rebuild trust, improve understanding and navigate difficult conversations, we can often prevent problems from escalating and reduce the risk of homelessness in the future.

https://youtu.be/GUUmEHiTBHo

Opening Doors to Learning and Employment

Having the opportunity to learn new skills, gain qualifications and access meaningful work can be transformational. Our employability and training programmes help people build confidence, develop practical skills, and move closer to education, training and employment opportunities.

During 2025/26:

• 135 people achieved qualifications, including Food Hygiene and Barista Skills certificates.
• 25 young people participated in our Green Skills Centre's Routes to Grow programme, with 17 achieving a Forest and Outdoor Learning Accreditation.
• 325 young people received support to access college, further education, or employment through our ‘key to’ projects.
• 61 people completed our Employability Programme or Accredited Forklift Training courses at our Felix Depot
• 105 people were supported through our Justice Employability programme in Falkirk, helping them return to work, earn qualifications, and get support to develop their CV and interview skills.
• 1,956 hours of community pay back orders were completed as part of our Justice Support work at our Walled Garden

For many participants, the impact goes far beyond qualifications. It is about building confidence, developing relationships and believing in new possibilities.

I kept thinking, it can't be this hard to get a job; it shouldn't be this hard. That led me into depressive periods with my mental health. That's when I reached back out to my former mentor, to see if there were any volunteering jobs, paid jobs, anything! I felt desperate. That’s when I first heard about the whole Felix Employability Programme. It really just changed the whole game.

Connor Glancy, Employability Programme Participant 2025.