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Shelter produces good practice guides, briefings and toolkits for housing practitioners. You can download copies here, or buy paper copies from our online shop.
Good practice guides
Working with housed Gypsies and Travellers
This unique guide is based on extensive consultations with Gypsies and Travellers around the country, and provides guidance and good practice examples to help organisations improve their support services. (Feb 2008)
Download 'Working with housed Gypsies and Travellers'
Buy 'Working with housed Gypsies and Travellers' online 
Safe and well? Looked-after young people who run away
This resource aims to build on skills and practice within the sector to identify ways that multi-agency working can improve outcomes for children at risk of running away. (Aug 2007)
Mediation for young homeless people
This guide is a simple, practical, and easy-to-use tool for those working with young people who are, or may become, homeless. (Aug 2004)
Download 'Mediation for young homeless people'
Buy 'Mediation for young homeless people' online
Common monitoring
This good practice guide sets out the basics of setting up, running, and trouble-shooting a multi-agency monitoring scheme. (Oct 2004)
Buy 'Common monitoring' online
Youth housing strategies
This guide promotes joint working and ensures a proactive approach to the housing problems of young people. (Sept 2004)
Download 'Youth housing strategies'
Buy 'Youth housing strategies' online
Local know-how
A guide to help advisers create a directory of housing and support services for young people in their area. (Nov 2005)
How RSLs can work with young people
This report looks at the youth initiatives of Harvest Housing Association and other RSLs in the context of working with young people. (Feb 2006)
Download 'How RSLs can work with young people'
Buy 'How RSLs can work with young people' online
Mentoring and befriending for young homeless people
This good practice guide explores how peer mentoring and befriending can help young homeless people and how to set up a mentoring or befriending scheme. (April 2006)
Download 'Mentoring and befriending for young homeless people'
Buy 'Mentoring and befriending for young homeless people online
Back on track
This guide provides information on ground-breaking projects addressing anti-social behaviour and details their outcomes. (June 2006)
Involving users in supported housing
This guide contains advice, project examples, tips, suggestions and templates that can be customized for your own services. (May 2005)
Download 'Involving users in supported housing'
Safe as houses: an inclusive approach to housing drug users
'Safe as houses' identifies the housing needs of drug users, offering both insight and good practice recommendations for this vulnerable group. (Feb 2006)
Multi-agency assessment panels toolkit
This best practice manual contains the practical information you need to set up a panel, FAQs and trouble-shooting guides, good practice examples, and sample forms and checklists. (July 2004)
Guidelines to accompany the MAAP toolkit are also available to download
Off the streets: tackling homelessness among female street-based sex workers
This review highlights the need for partnerships between specialist agencies and mainstream service providers to support this group. (Oct 2004)
New directions in street homelessness (Volume One)
This report describes the work of agencies that are seeking to provide radical and innovative methods of reducing street homelessness. (Oct 2006)
Download 'New directions (Volume One)'
Buy 'New directions (Volume One)' online
New directions in street homelessness (Volume Two)
Volume Two features projects whose innovative work is increasing the number of socially excluded adults in settled accommodation. (Mar 2008)
Download 'New directions (Volume Two)'
Buy 'New directions (Volume Two)' online
Housing and support for older people
This guide examines available housing options, homelessness prevention and approaches to working with older services users. (Oct 2006).
Download 'Housing and support for older people'
Buy 'Housing and support for older people' online
Supporting 16- and 17-year olds making homelessness applications
This guide will aid professionals make effective homeless applications, and challenge decisions where necessary. (Oct 2006)
Download 'Supporting 16- and 17-year olds'
Buy 'Supporting 16- and 17-year olds' online
Selective licensing for local authorities
This guide provides housing professionals with the tools to devise and implement their own licensing scheme, along with sample forms, and sources of further information. (Oct 2006)
Download 'Selective licensing for local authorities'
Homelessness: early identification and prevention
A guide for local authorities and other organisations on how to identify those at risk of homelessness and take effective prevention measures. (June 2007)
Download 'Homelessness: early identification and prevention'
Buy 'Homelessness: early identification and prevention' online
Good practice briefings
The briefings provide a brief summary of an issue, including a list of recommendations for how to tackle it.
Engaging with homeless children - guidance for children's centres
This briefing discusses the ways in which children's centres can engage more effectively with homeless children and their families. (Apr 08)
Download 'Engaging with homeless children'
Engaging with homeless children - guidance for education professionals
This briefing discusses the ways in which education professionals can engage more effectively with homeless children and their families. (May 08)
Download 'Engaging with homeless children - guidance for education professionals'
Barred from Housing
This briefing discusses the barriers faced by prisoners in accessing accommodation on release. (Jan 2007)
Download 'Barred from Housing'
Gypsies and Travellers
An overview of the issues faced by Gypsy and Traveller communities in accessing housing and services. (Feb 2007)
Download 'Gypsies and Travellers'
Tenancies for minors
An overview of the law on, and good practice in, letting to 16- and 17-year-olds. (Apr 2007)
Download 'Tenancies for minors'
Service without substance
This briefing looks at addressing the gaps in service provision for street homeless people with a dual diagnosis. (July 2007)
Download 'Service without substance'
Mortgage to rent
This briefing gives an overview of mortgage rescue schemes and outlines the need for regulation of such schemes. (Oct 2007)
Educational resources
A new tomorrow
A resource pack aimed at support workers, designed to address vulnerable young people's emotional development through individual and group activities. (June 2006)
Buy 'A new tomorrow' online now
The Housing Game
A board and card game for youth workers to use in encouraging young people to think about homelessness, debate the issues and consider the reality of living away from home. (June 2004)
Buy 'The Housing Game' online now
Talk before you walk: a toolkit about running away
Developed in conjunction with a Pupil Development Centre, Talk before you walk is a two-part toolkit for Year Fives. (Dec 2005)
Buy 'Talk before you walk' online now