The MPs found that the number of 16- to 25-year-olds accepted into council accommodation is increasing faster than any other group.
The increase can be partly explained by the reclassification of 16- and 17-year-olds as a priority group, which means they are more likely to be accepted for housing. But the all-party group of MPs, who sit on the Parliamentary select committee examining the work of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, also heard there was a genuine rise in young people seeking accommodation.
A Foyer Federation spokeswoman agreed that the reclassification is not the sole reason for the rise: "It is now a priority for local authorities to deal with homeless young people, but from our experience there are more severe needs."
The committee also highlighted the problem of homeless young people in B&Bs and drew attention to the 16-hour rule, which states people aged 19 and above cannot get housing benefit if they spend 16 hours or more a week in education.
www.parliament.uk
- See Briefing, p10.
