Single Homeless Action Initiative in Derwentside (SHAID) grew out of a local seminar, held in September 1993, in the relation to the housing needs of young single people. Concern had been growing within the Statutory and Voluntary Sectors in the District, for the diverse range of difficulties that appeared to be worsening for this age group. The following problems were identified:

• the lack of suitable accommodation for young people;
• the difficulties that they experienced flying to gain tenancies;
• the lack of support through tenancies;
• the need to raise awareness of housing issues through education;
• the need to research hidden homelessness;
• the need to change allocations policies;
• the lack of emergency accommodation, sheltered and hostel accommodation.

The conclusion was that it was necessary to proceed on a joint basis as an inter-agency response which SHAID would facilitate with its main aim being seeking solutions to young people's housing issues by the most effective, co-ordinated means.

SHAID was formally launched in October 1993 by the then Minister of State for Environment and Transport, Hillary Armstrong.

Up until 1997 SHAID remained an inter-agency focus group who regularly held awareness raising seminars on issues relating to housing and young people. This all changed when SHAID received a National Lottery Grant enabling them in 1998 to employ 3 workers to work directly with young people in housing need from our then base in the Louisa Centre Stanley.

Much has changed since this time for example we now have a staff team of 10 and have had to move to larger premises within the Tommy Armstrong Centre Stanley because of the demand for our service.  However one thing has remained constant and that is our commitment to providing a quality service that young people can rely upon in a time of need.