Modern Childhoods Embracing Transient Lifestyle Akin to Sofa Surfing?
In the past five years, there has been a significant increase in homelessness among young care leavers, a trend driven by various factors such as housing shortages, affordability crises, and gaps in support services for care leavers transitioning to independence.
Key reasons for the rise include a lack of affordable, stable housing for young care leavers, who often struggle to find suitable accommodation due to limited social housing and high private market rents. Additionally, insufficient ongoing support during the transition from care to independent living can exacerbate vulnerabilities, as care leavers often require tailored support for education, employment, and housing that is not always adequately provided. Economic pressures, such as increased cost of living and stagnating wages, have also played a role.
Recent statistics show that in the last year, 4,300 care leavers aged 18-20 were assessed as homeless, up from 2,790 in 2018-19, representing a 54% increase. This number is particularly concerning when compared to the overall number of young people facing homelessness, which has risen 15 times slower.
Beyond the statistics, there are many more care leavers who are hidden homeless, sofa surfing, or rough sleeping, unaware of the support and entitlements available to them.
The charity, Become, which is a national charity for children in care and care leavers, is taking action. They are requesting that care leavers be exempt from homelessness intentionality rules and are asking authorities to make all care leavers a priority for social housing up to the age of 25. The charity is also calling on the government to fully fund the Staying Put support scheme.
Local authorities have reported ongoing issues with children in temporary accommodation and long durations before securing permanent housing. Regional reports indicate that percentages of care leavers engaged in education, employment, or training are hovering slightly above 50%, showing some progress but still highlighting precarious circumstances.
To address these issues, current calls for government action involve developing and consulting on new housing strategies that prioritize quality, safety, and affordability specifically for vulnerable groups including care leavers. There is also a push for increasing investment in supported housing and tailored programs designed to meet the unique needs of care leavers to improve their transition outcomes. Strengthening cross-sector collaboration among social services, housing providers, and health and education sectors is also crucial for providing holistic support.
Preventing homelessness through early intervention and stepping up prevention efforts is another key aspect of the proposed strategies. Authorities have documented some success in reducing homelessness but see this as an ongoing need.
In the North West and South West of England, 15% and 14% of care leavers within the age bracket assessed as homeless were based, respectively. Durham campaigners are stating that HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation) are not considered home for many people.
Since 2022, the increase in young care leavers facing homelessness has skyrocketed by 27%. The government and local authorities must take urgent action to address these systemic issues and provide the necessary support to prevent homelessness among care leavers.
Care leavers' struggle for stable housing extends beyond finding affordable options, as a lack of suitable accommodation and limited social housing exacerbates the issue. Moreover, insufficient support during the transition from care to independent living can lead to vulnerabilities, making home-and-garden essential skills less accessible and potentially contributing to a deteriorating lifestyle for young care leavers.
