Lack Of Support To Blame For Care Leaver Housing Problems

Children's services departments are not doing enough to secure good quality housing support for care leavers and other vulnerable teenagers, The Children's Society has said.  Research carried out for the charity's On Your Own Now report found half of the 118 providers used by local authorities to house vulnerable 16 to 17-year-olds have evicted or asked a child to move at short notice. Substance misuse, mental health problems, violence and financial problems were the main reasons for eviction arising. But housing providers said children's services departments are failing to ensure the right support from youth workers and safeguarding teams is in place that could prevent problems arising. More than half (55 per cent) of housing providers reported children’s services did not include them in planning support for the young people in their care.  Read more on the Children & Young People Now website.