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.

Care Leavers Placed In ‘Unsuitable’ Accommodation

Local councils in England are housing vulnerable teenagers in bed and breakfasts despite new rules restricting the practice. In some areas less than half are living in "suitable" accommodation, a new analysis of official data shows. The Department for Education (DfE) said young people leaving care were now receiving more help than ever before. While 78% of care leavers across England are judged to be living in places which are safe and which meet their needs, according to official data for 2013-14, local figures show the number is much lower in many areas. Of England's 151 local authorities, 15 told a DfE annual census, that no more than two thirds of young care leavers were living in accommodation which met official criteria on what was "suitable". Read more on the BBC website.