| Young and homeless 'can't just go home' |
New research from Homeless Link indicating that around 4 in 10 young people become homeless because their parents are no longer willing to house them, reinforces our recent calls for Government to reconsider proposals to remove Housing Benefit for under-25s.
Young and Homeless 2013, based on a survey of 169 frontline agencies (homelessness charities and local authority housing departments), reveals that more than half of young people find themselves homeless because of relationship breakdown. Of those approaching local authorities for help:
For these individuals, remaining at home is simply not an option and Housing Benefit provides a vital safety net ensuring a successful move to independence.
The report also indicates that in many areas, finding suitable accommodation for young people is becoming more problematic. 68% of homelessness agencies indicated there was not enough youth-specific emergency accommodation available in their area and 43% of local authorities reported placing young people in unsuitable B&B accommodation.
Denise Hatton, chief executive, YMCA England says "In reality, many homeless young people come from a background where remaining at home is simply not an option. This can be due to family breakdown, a lack of space or overcrowding in the home, death or illness of a parent or a concern for the young person's safety. For many there has been no choice and living independently is not a luxury but a necessity.
Having a safe place to live is the first priority. Without this security, every aspect of a person's life is affected - holding down education or employment becomes almost impossible. We need to ensure that emergency accommodation is available when it is needed, as well as appropriate and affordable options when the time comes for a young person to take the first step to independence. Only in this way can we ensure young people are given the best chance as they start out in life."
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