According to the latest figures from charity Homeless Link, 45 per cent of lone people living in homeless accommodation services in England in 2016 were aged 16 to 24. Homelessness organisations say service users are getting younger, with a mix of social issues and housing policy changes adversely affecting young people more than any other group.
Family breakdown is the main cause of youth homelessness and was a factor in nearly half of cases in 2015, according to Homeless Link. Rising poverty as a result of austerity is contributing to families falling apart, says the charity's director of policy, Jacqui McCluskey. She points to widespread local authority cuts to youth services, which help support vulnerable young people and prevent homelessness.
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