Over the past decade youth homelessness has received increasing political priority in the UK and across much of the developed world. Focussing on Wales, where a comprehensive review of homelessness policy is currently being undertaken, this chapter explores the impacts of homelessness legislation in Wales on the social and physical spaces occupied by homeless young people. Informed by an understanding of key geographical concepts of place, networks and mobility – as well as sociological understandings of power and agency – it considers the experiences of all homeless young people, not only...

Over the past decade youth homelessness has received increasing political priority in the UK and across much of the developed world. Focussing on Wales, where a comprehensive review of homelessness policy is currently being undertaken, this chapter explores the impacts of homelessness legislation in Wales on the social and physical spaces occupied by homeless young people. Informed by an understanding of key geographical concepts of place, networks and mobility – as well as sociological understandings of power and agency – it considers the experiences of all homeless young people, not only those who occupy the streets. The critique draws upon the author's own experiences of undertaking interviews with homeless young people during several research studies over the past four years. While the chapter centres on Wales the discussion has implications for youth homelessness policies elsewhere.