But the scale of the issue is projected to be far greater. Many young homeless people receive no support from statutory services and survive by "sofa-surfing", relying on friends. Youth homelessness charity Centrepoint estimates that up to 80,000 young people experience some form of homelessness every year.
Research published in December by Homeless Link, the umbrella body for homelessness charities, estimated that their members supported 16,000 young people in October and November 2011 alone. It cited increasing levels of relationship breakdown, mental health problems and substance misuse as major causes of rising levels of youth homelessness.
A payment-by-results scheme for tackling homelessness among young people is now being considered by government as part of a drive to address the problem.
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