Young Homeless People Need a Helping Hand, Not More Hurdles to Clear

It's a sad but simple truth that one third of people accepted by councils for help with homelessness in the first half of 2012 were young people. What's more, the single biggest cause of homelessness among the under-25s is relationship breakdown with family or friends.  Iain Duncan Smith's proposal to limit housing benefit for this very group risks damaging the future prospects of those who most need our help. Becoming independent, with your own home and job, is tough for many of today's young who face rising rents and high unemployment rates. For those with no family home, such as those leaving care, or no option but to move out, realising your potential can be even harder. According to research we undertook last year (which we are in the process of repeating), the majority of young people who are seen by homeless charities are already in a disadvantaged position. Many are not in any form of education, employment or training, nearly half are in financial difficulty and one in four has already slept rough. There is clear evidence that the longer someone stays without a home, the more likely they are to develop complex problems and become trapped in a cycle of deprivation from which it can be difficult to escape.  Read more on the Guardian website.