Warnings after care leavers face increase in homelessness

Young people leaving care in England face a higher rate of homelessness than the population, latest data shows.

It comes after warnings that the youngest care leavers face a “devastating care cliff” which could see them lose support when they turn 18 and leave care, as well as facing unemployment difficulties.

Rachel de Souza, England’s children’s commissioner, told the BBC she is concerned the government is not providing enough long-term support for those leaving care.

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

The number of 18 to 20-year-olds leaving care who were at risk of homelessness in the past year increased by 9%, and those who are already homeless and owe relief fees increased by 6%.

Among the general population in England, the risk of homelessness increased by an average of 0.3% and the homelessness rate increased by 1%.

It follows a trend of homelessness among the youngest leaving care, which campaigners say is becoming more acute.

Figures from last year show homelessness has increased by 21% among households with the youngest leaving care in England, compared with around 12% more broadly.

One third of people leaving care become homeless within the first two years of leaving care.

Homelessness Minister Alison McGovern said: “Everyone deserves a roof over their head, yet these figures show that too many people are at risk.

“We are tackling the worst forms of homelessness and the figures show we are reducing the worst forms of temporary accommodation with continued cuts in B&B use.”

He pointed to the government’s homelessness strategy, saying the government is providing £1 billion for social housing and £39 billion for affordable housing.

The Conservatives have been contacted for comment.

Kerry Portman has been homeless several times since leaving foster care at the age of 18.

The 27-year-old was taken into care when she was already experiencing homelessness and was in the care of her mother, who was struggling with drug addiction.

Kerry was in and out of supported and transitional housing and children’s homes, where she says she experienced “severe abuse”.

She gained a place to study at the University of Cambridge, but struggling with the lack of support, she dropped out and found herself sleeping rough and between sit-ups.

“It was incredibly horrifying and incredibly painful and damaging,” she says.

“I didn’t have any kind of safety net, so I didn’t have any family to lean on for support… Being a woman I was obviously (also) at greater risk.”

Kerry would take long buses to avoid the streets, stay at McDonald’s or sleep in public bathrooms to stay safe – but still couldn’t escape abusive and violent situations.

She says that when it comes to applying for jobs, she is often dismissed for not having enough experience.

“I never had the stability to be able to focus on work experience and things like that, because when I was constantly experiencing homelessness I was just focused on surviving.”

She is now completing an Open University course, her third attempt to continue her studies in higher education, and has been assisted in finding a suitable long-term home.

But she fears for other young people who have had similar experiences and difficulties coping with life after leaving care.

“All the negative consequences are compounded. And then the more deprived a person is, the more harm they do.”

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

Claire Bracey, director of policy, campaigns and communications at the charity Become, said the status quo was “unacceptable”.

“No child leaving care should have to face homelessness. At the age of 18, they face a devastating care cliff where vital supports disappear and they are expected to become independent overnight.”

The data shows that 40% of the youngest care leavers aged 19 to 21 in England are not in education, employment or training – known as NEETs – compared to 15% for all young people in that category.

The government is concerned about the number of young people in this situation, and says the Youth Guarantee scheme, which will offer paid work or apprenticeships to prevent long-term unemployment among young people, will help those who have experienced care.

But there have been 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 to cut the health element of Universal Credit for youth care leavers as part of upcoming welfare reforms.

The government said that no decision has been taken.

Children’s Commissioner Rachel de Souza said the state acts as a parent to those leaving care, and so they need to be prioritized on issues such as housing and benefits.

“I think we need to work really hard,” he said.

“I’m not convinced… because Westminster is not very good at thinking about the long-term realities of young people’s lives when the solutions are not easy.”

He has called for benefits to be prioritized in housing for the 50-60,000 care leavers aged between 17 and 21 and for benefits to reflect the fact that a care leaver needs to set up a home and pay the bills.

Labor MP John Whitby has fathered 26 children over two decades.

He is pressuring ministers to consider giving young care leavers the same rate of Universal Credit as those over 25, pointing out they will have the same obligations as older claimants.

But he also said he was concerned about “flat lining” of available foster parents.

“Obviously kids who have been in foster care don’t do as well as regular kids, but the longer they stay in foster care the better they do… Something we’ve always tried to think about with the kids who stay with us is kind of an aspirational element,” he said.

She said she hoped some of the recent pilot schemes, as part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, would be rolled out across the country to boost support networks for those leaving care to move into housing and education.

“If the fundamentals are right, they’re not being eviscerated, then they can focus on the things they need to do, which is either their education or training or getting a job or whatever – much more ambitious things.

“You have to get the basics right.”