From care to where?

By Steph Gore, Operations Manager at Greater Change

From care to where? This is a question we must continually fight to address as government data further reveals a 33% rise in 18-20 year old care leavers assessed as homeless or at risk of homelessness this year. 

3,710 care leavers were assessed as such in 2022-23, however this barely scratches the surface of the real figure as this data only considers those involved with or known to their local authority. It is highly likely that the real figure is much greater.

Young care leavers emerge from the system at a disproportionate disadvantage compared to their peers. Vulnerable and unsupported, the array of complex challenges ahead leaves little room for them to thrive. 

Current support available for care leavers is simply not enough in the wake of rising costs of living and many young people leave care without having any idea of what they are entitled to. For those who do not meet the requirements for further support or leave foster care at 16, homelessness arises as the dismal reality. 

Without the most fundamental basics in place for our young people, be it housing and employment or education support, how can we expect them to stumble their way into secure tenancies and sustainable careers? 

The Children’s Commissioner is calling for care leavers to be paid the higher rate of Jobseeker’s allowance or Universal Credit from the age of 18, rather than waiting until they are 25. This would certainly be a step in the right direction for more financial support at the point of leaving care and helping care leavers to put down more roots. However, there is much more that needs to be addressed in removing significant financial barriers from care leavers at the start of their independence.

Of known care leaver households assessed in 2022-23, 2,270 were already homeless and 1,440 were threatened with homelessness within 56 days. In a time of desperate councils and accommodation shortages, we are even seeing care leavers housed in unregistered facilities such as narrowboats, motorhomes and tents, hundreds of miles away from their local area. 

This is not the foundation we want to lay for our young people. We should be able to provide financial support and opportunities that lead to a real physical and mental move-on from both foster care and homelessness. The system needs to change.

Greater Change are a #PlanForThe136k campaign signatory, you can find out more about their work here.