Since 2018-19, there has been a 33% increase in young care leavers aged 18-20 who have been assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness, according to data from the UK Government. Become, a charity for children in care and young care leavers has called these figures a “scandal”. The number of 18-20-year-old care leaver households assessed in England as homeless rose from 2,790 in 2018-19 to 3,710 in 2022-23, while the number of households facing homelessness in the general population only increased by 11% over the same period. It is important to note that the data only tracks those who have received a relief or prevention duty from their local authority. As such, it’s possible these figures underestimate the true number of young care leavers who are facing homelessness.
Sophie Shasby is a mental health nurse who lived in a children’s home from the age of 13. She has come close to being homeless twice since leaving care. Shasby has said “We’re told that there’s support for care leavers and we’re made a priority, but that doesn’t seem to happen”. She feels let down by her council and, like many young care leavers, struggles to afford the deposits required for housing.
Katharine Sacks-Jones, chief executive of Become, has said that the data is depressing but not surprising. She asserts that every year, thousands of 18-year-olds face a care cliff, which is when important support and relationships disappear, and they are expected to leave care and become independent overnight, often well before they feel ready. Become would like to see more support for care leavers up to the age of 25, including the expansion of the government’s Staying Put and Staying Close schemes, and help with rental deposits.
A DLUHC spokesperson says that the government is spending £2bn to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the next three years. Additionally, they provided funding to support young people leaving care who are most at risk of homelessness and rough sleeping. The government aims to focus its efforts on more early support for families through the Staying Put and Staying Close programmes. However, the rising figures of young care leavers facing homelessness suggest that support for this group is still inadequate
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