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[LONDON, 23 April 2007] - Gaps in local authority planning mean that almost one in six young people leaving care are placed in unsuitable - sometimes unsafe - accommodation, according to a report released today by young people's charity Rainer. In some of the worst cases vulnerable young people were placed in housing that was physically unsecured and where they were subjected to harassment and discrimination by other tenants and staff. They could find themselves miles away from work or training and effectively cut off from friends and other support. One in three care leavers did not feel safe where they were living (A National Voice 2005). Legislation clearly states that local authorities have a duty to provide 'suitable accommodation' for young people leaving care and that care leavers are a priority group for housing services. However, a lack of coordination between leaving care and housing departments can mean that this is not carried out in practice. There is also evidence that young people feel they have no choice but to accept unsuitable accommodation because failure to do so would result in them being declared 'intentionally homeless' and receiving no further help. This is caused in part by the approach of some housing staff. Bad housing is immensely distressing for young people in the short term, but it is the long-term consequences that Rainer is most concerned about. Placing already vulnerable young people in unsafe or unsuitable accommodation can have a devastating impact on their wellbeing and future prospects in education and employment. For example research shows that quality housing is the biggest factor in achieving good mental health. Becoming homeless is one of the top ten concerns of young people leaving care and up to one in three rough sleepers spent time in local authority care as a child. The report recommends that every local authority develop a list of approved properties and landlords and a system for rigorously inspecting properties before vulnerable young people are placed in them. The charity is also pressing for much closer links between leaving-care and housing teams within local authorities, to avoid the confusion that sometimes arises around young people's needs and the support they are entitled to. Finally, there should be a presumption against young people leaving care being declared intentionally homeless. Speaking at the launch of the report, Rainer Chief Executive Joyce Moseley said: "The Care Matters Green Paper presents an enormous opportunity to improve the life chances of young people in or leaving care. But if we don't get the housing right first, we risk undermining that opportunity. The best local authorities already see the links between housing and wider issues. They bring housing and social services together to provide a joint response. We want to see that approach used consistently across the country." "We want local authorities to provide the support, advice and encouragement that any parent would when their child moves out on their own for the first time." Further information
"While the cases discussed in this report may not represent the experience of all care-leavers - or even the majority - it is unacceptable that even one young person should be put at risk in this way.
pdf: http://www.crin.org/docs/Rainer_home_alone.pdf