At least one will close later in the year and others may follow.
Children's minister Margaret Hodge has commissioned research from officials into the impact any closures will have on the provision of beds for looked-after children.
The Youth Justice Board is to reduce the number of beds it commissions annually from 310 to 200 over two years.
It has told six homes - Dales House in Lancashire, Leverton in Essex, Brunel in Derbyshire, St John's in Northamptonshire, Thornbury House in Oxfordshire and Stamford House in west London - it will no longer commission beds.
Staff at Stamford House have been informed the unit will close in June, while decisions on the others have yet to be taken. The Briars Hey home in Lancashire has already been earmarked for closure in April.
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