Note: This is a summary of a research project by Step by Step. The full report can be downloaded here.
Youth homelessness is a huge problem in the UK. Last year alone, more than 122,000 young people presented to their council as homeless. While homelessness can affect young people from a range of backgrounds, youth homeless charity Step by Step have found that one group is disproportionately affected: care leavers.
Recent studies have found that 25% of all homeless young people were once in the care system, and that 33% of care leavers become homeless within the first two years of leaving care.
So why are care leavers more likely to be homeless than other groups of young people?
Based on decades of front-line experience, and drawing upon recent research, Step by Step have identified four key factors as causing young care leavers to be particularly vulnerable to homelessness.
Firstly, the lack of a stable home life, including traumatic experiences, placement insecurity and a lack of loving role models, can lead to a difficulty in developing relationships, managing behaviour and learning how to live independently.
Debbie Moreton, Step by Step CEO, explains: “Young people who have faced adverse childhood experiences, such as family breakdown, often don’t believe they have anything positive to contribute”.
Secondly, young people leaving the care system are almost four times more likely to not be in education or employment than their peers. This puts them at a disadvantage in terms of life skills, self-esteem and income.
This leads to the third factor that Step by Step have identified: financial insecurity. Not only is the UK benefits system very complicated and with long wait times, there is a chronic lack of affordable housing. Young care leavers are less likely to be supported by the bank of mum and dad, and so are effectively priced out of even the lower end of the rental market.
Finally, young care leavers are more likely to have mental health needs than their peers, which further compounds the barriers they face. Research suggests that the rate of psychiatric disorder in young people in care is up to 67%, compared to just 15% among those who have not been through the care system.
Care experienced young people often face huge challenges as they grow towards adulthood, leaving them significantly at risk of homelessness. Step by Step suggest that each of the factors they have identified need to be addressed if this situation is to be remedied.
Until then, there are a large number of young people in the UK who are being denied the life chances they are entitled to.
Dora arrived in the UK as a refugee following the death of her mother and brother at a young age. She had nowhere to call home but fortunately we were able to help.
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