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Recent data reveals that young people leaving care in England are experiencing a notably higher rise in homelessness compared to their peers in the wider population. Concerns have been raised about the so-called “devastating care cliff,” which occurs when support is withdrawn as soon as these individuals turn 18 and leave the care system. Alongside this abrupt loss of assistance, many face significant challenges related to unemployment.
Rachel De Souza, the Children’s Commissioner for England, expressed her apprehension to the BBC about the government’s current stance. She questioned whether adequate long-term support for care leavers is being provided, emphasizing that young people leaving care require ongoing and stable assistance. Meanwhile, the government affirmed its commitment to taking “bold steps” toward addressing homelessness but declined to provide detailed assurances about future measures.
Statistics highlight a troubling trend: households led by care leavers aged 18 to 20 facing the threat of homelessness surged by 9% in the past year, while those already homeless and owed assistance grew by 6%. Comparatively, the general population saw much smaller increases, with threats of homelessness up by just 0.3% and actual homelessness by 1%. This intensifying problem among care leavers follows a broader pattern of rising homelessness within this vulnerable group. Last year’s figures showed a 21% increase in homelessness among the youngest care leavers, markedly higher than the 12% rise seen more generally. It is estimated that one-third of care leavers become homeless within two years of exiting care.
Kerrie Portman’s story offers a personal illustration of these challenges. Taken into care as a teenager after experiencing homelessness herself, Kerrie endured abuse while living in children’s homes and cycled through supported and temporary accommodation. Despite gaining a place at Cambridge University, she struggled without sufficient support and eventually left, finding herself homeless and forced to sleep in buses, public toilets, and squats for safety. “It was incredibly terrifying and incredibly traumatic and damaging,” Kerrie recalled. She described the lack of a safety net, absence of family support, and heightened risks she faced as a young woman living on the streets.
Kerrie also highlighted the difficulties in securing employment, noting that her chronic homelessness left little room to gain experience or focus on work opportunities. Now attempting to continue her education through the Open University and with help securing stable housing, she remains concerned about others enduring similar hardship after leaving care. “All of the negative outcomes are rising. And then the more disadvantaged a person is, the more that leads to more disadvantage,” she said.
Campaigners emphasize that while local authorities must provide some support to young people leaving care at 18, the safety net is insufficient. Clare Bracey, director of Policy, Campaigns and Communication at the charity Become, criticised the current situation as “unacceptable,” describing the sudden withdrawal of vital support as a “devastating care cliff.” She argued that no young person leaving care should face homelessness. Statistics reinforce this urgency, with 40% of the youngest care leavers aged 19 to 21 classified as not in education, employment, or training (NEET), compared to 15% across all young people.
The government has acknowledged these concerns and highlighted initiatives such as the Youth Guarantee Scheme, which aims to offer paid work or apprenticeships to prevent long-term unemployment among care-experienced youth. However, opposition MPs have called for the retention of certain benefits for care leavers amid planned welfare reforms. The education select committee recently urged the government not to remove the health element of Universal Credit for young care leavers, but the government has stated that no final decisions have been made on this issue.
Rachel De Souza emphasized the role of the state as a parent to care leavers and underscored the need to prioritise them in housing and benefits policy. She urged a stronger focus on the long-term realities facing young people leaving care, noting, “I’m not confident… because Westminster is not very good at thinking about the long-term realities of young people’s lives when the fixes are not easy.” She called for priority access to housing for the 50,000 to 60,000 care leavers aged 17 to 21 and benefits that account for the costs associated with establishing an independent home.
Labour MP John Whitby, who has fostered 26 children over 20 years, has advocated for younger care leavers to receive the same rate of Universal Credit as claimants over 25, pointing out that the responsibilities they face are similar. He also voiced concern about the stagnation in the number of foster parents available. Whitby highlighted that children in care tend to do better the longer they remain in foster placements and stressed the importance of nurturing aspirations among those in the system.
He expressed hope that pilot programmes being trialled under the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which provide increased support for care leavers to maintain housing and education, would be expanded nationally. “If the basics are in place, then they’re not being evicted, then they can concentrate on the things they need to do, which is either get their education or training or job or whatever it is – much more aspirational things,” Whitby said. “You’ve got to have the basics in place.”
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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