The Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) report into young people living independently found that care leavers are the group most likely to have housing problems.
One in five of the 12,000 young people who leave care each year end up homeless within two years, according to the report.
The report also cites a study by Centrepoint that found that more than a quarter of care leavers (26 per cent) had "sofa surfed" and 14 per cent had slept rough, with losing their tenancy a key factor.
Among recommendations to avert housing problems is to raise the cut-off point at which care leavers are exempt from the shared accommodation rate and under-occupancy penalty, from the current level of 22 to 25.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
