The figures relate to local authority housing support received by 18- to 20-year-olds.
These show there were 2,790 care experienced people in this age group facing or experiencing homelessness in 2018/19, rising to 3,710 in 2022/23.
This is triple the rate of homelessness faced overall by households over the same period.
Of care leavers presenting as homeless in 2022/23, three in five were already homeless by the time they received support from their local authority.
According to Become 10.7 per cent of care leavers aged 18 to 20 were homeless or threatened with homelessness in 2022/23, compared with 8.9 per cent in 2018/19.
A regional divide has also emerged, with one in five care leavers in this age group in the North West of England being homeless or under the threat of homelessness. This compares with just over one in six in the South West and almost one in eight in the South East.
Become warns the figures are “the tip of the iceberg” as they do not take into account those who are sofa surfing or rough sleeping, and are not claiming council support.
“This data is depressing but sadly not surprising,” said Become chief executive Katherine Sacks-Jones.
“Each year, thousands of 18-year-olds face a care cliff where important support and relationships disappear and they are expected to leave care and become independent overnight, often well before they feel ready.
“Being pushed into adulthood without the right support in place puts young people at risk. Trying to access safe and suitable housing, manage bills and the cost-of-living crisis, whilst also continuing their education or starting work without a safety net to fall back on is a huge struggle,” she added.
The charity is calling on the government to ensure young people are ready before they leave care. This includes ensuring schemes such as Staying Put and Staying Close are a legal entitlement for those in care up to the age of 25.
The removal of barriers for those with experience of care accessing private housing, such supplying a deposit and guarantor’s details, is also being called for.
In addition, homelessness law needs to be amended to make housing for all care leavers up to the age of 25 a priority.
Councils should also remove local area connection tests for care leavers up to the age of 25, adds Become.
