Warnings after care leavers face increase in homelessness

Latest figures show young people leaving care in England are facing a sharper rise in homelessness compared to the general population.

It comes after warnings that the youngest care leavers face a “devastating care gap”, leading to difficulties with unemployment as well as losing support when they turn 18 and leave care.

England’s Children’s Commissioner Rachel De Souza told the BBC she was concerned the government was not providing adequate long-term support for care leavers.

The government said it was committed to taking “bold action” to tackle homelessness.

The number of households at risk of homelessness with 18-20 year olds leaving care last year increased by 9% on the previous year, while the number of households currently homeless and in benefit debt increased by 6%.

On average in England, the number of people threatened with homelessness among the general population increased by 0.3 per cent and homelessness increased by 1 per cent.

It follows a trend of homelessness that campaigners say is becoming increasingly severe among the youngest care leavers.

Last year’s figures It shows that homelessness in households with the youngest care leavers in England has increased by 21 per cent, while more generally the rate is around 12 per cent.

A third of care leavers become homeless within the first two years after leaving care.

A government spokesman said it was “unacceptable” that care leavers were being left at risk of homelessness.

“Our Homelessness Strategy will set out bold action to prevent homelessness and deliver lasting solutions, and the ground-breaking Child Welfare and Schools Bill will require public bodies to consider the support young people need as they leave care,” the spokesperson said.

The Conservatives have been approached for comment.

Kerrie Portman has been homeless several times since leaving care when she turned 18.

The 27-year-old was taken into care as a young person who had already experienced homelessness, under the care of his mother, who was struggling with addiction.

Kerrie was in and out of supported and temporary accommodation and children’s homes, where she says she suffered “serious abuse”.

He found a place to study at Cambridge University, but left school as he struggled to cope with the lack of support and found himself alternating between barely sleeping and squatting.

“It was incredibly scary, incredibly traumatic and damaging,” she says.

“I didn’t have any safety net, so I didn’t have any family to turn to for support… As a woman, obviously I was [also] more at risk.”

Kerrie would take long buses to escape the streets, stay at McDonalds or sleep in public toilets to stay safe, but she still couldn’t escape abusive and violent situations.

When it comes to applying for jobs, he says he is often dismissed for not having enough experience.

“I never had the stability to focus on work experience and those kinds of things, because when I was experiencing chronic homelessness I was just focused on surviving.”

She is currently completing an Open University course, her third attempt to pursue studies in higher education, and is receiving support in finding suitable long-term housing.

But she fears other young people with similar experiences struggling with life after leaving care and the challenges they face.

“All the negative consequences are compounded. And the more disadvantaged a person is, the more disadvantage that leads to.”

While local authorities are legally obliged to provide some support to care leavers who leave the system at 18, campaigners say the lack of a safety net in terms of family, housing and other factors makes them more vulnerable.

Clare Bracey, Director of Policy, Campaigns and Communications at the charity Become, said the current situation was “unacceptable”.

“No child leaving care should face homelessness. At 18, they face a devastating care gap where vital support disappears and they are expected to become independent overnight.”

Figures show 40% of the youngest 19 to 21-year-olds leaving care in England – known as NEET – are not in education, employment or training, compared to 15% of all young people in this category.

The government is concerned about the number of young people in this situation and says: Youth Guarantee Program that will offer paid employment or apprenticeship opportunities Preventing long-term unemployment among young people will help those with care experience.

But there are calls from Labor MPs to continue some benefits for care leavers, which the government has not committed to maintaining as part of upcoming welfare reforms.

Last month, the education select committee called on the government not cutting the health element of Universal Credit for young people leaving care as part of upcoming welfare reforms.

The government said no decision had been taken.

Children’s commissioner Rachel De Souza said the state acts as a parent for care leavers and that these people need priority in matters such as housing and social benefits.

“I think we have to push really hard,” he said.

“I don’t have confidence… because Westminster is not very good at thinking about the long-term realities of young people’s lives when the fixes aren’t easy.”

He called for housing to be prioritized for the 50-60,000 care leavers aged 17 to 21, and for benefits to reflect the fact that care leavers need to set up homes and pay the bills.

Labor MP John Whitby cared for 26 children in two decades.

It is pressing ministers to consider giving young care leavers Universal Credit at the same rate as over-25s, pointing out they would have the same obligations as older claimants.

But he also said he was concerned about the current “flat line” of foster parents.

“Obviously kids in foster care don’t do as well as regular kids, but the longer they’re in foster care the better they get… that’s kind of the aspirational element that we always try to think about with kids who live with us,” he said.

He said he hoped some new pilot programs would be rolled out across the country as part of the Child Welfare and Schools Bill, strengthening the support network for care leavers to stay in housing and education.

“If the basics are in place, then they don’t get evacuated, then they can concentrate on the things they need to do, which is either their education, training, work or whatever, things that are much more aspirational.

“You have to keep the basics in place.”