Homeless youths see lack of emergency accommodation and half are rejected by their parents
- 27 Jan
A report by homelessness charity Homeless Link has found that almost half of young people have found themselves homeless due to their parents no longer wanting them to live with them.
Research found that 44% of young people approaching councils with homelessness applications said that their parents were no longer willing to house them. The survey looked into 169 councils and homelessness charities found a lack of accommodation for young people, with 68% of respondents reporting that there was not enough youth-specific housing within their area. 43% of local authorities said that they had been forced to place young people in bed and breakfast accommodation, reports Inside Housing.
The report also found that improvements have been made to local authorities homelessness services. Two thirds of local authorities have said that their joint working is effective compared to about half last year.
Rick Henderson, chief executive of Homeless Link, said: "It is vital that young people, at the most important time of their lives, are given the support they need to realise their potential and enjoy a bright future. For many, staying at home is simply not an option and these people need a helping hand, not an additional hurdle. That is why we are questioning the proposal to remove housing benefit for under-25s. A severe shortage of affordable housing and the highest levels of youth unemployment in nearly 20 years mean many young people face significant barriers to achieving their goals. We are calling on the government to invest in their futures by ensuring the support is in place to make sure they have somewhere safe to call home."
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