A new report by homelessness charity Centrepoint has found that 86,000 young people at risk of homelessness contacted their local council last year, but 58 per cent were turned away with no practical help.
The statistics, gleaned via Freedom Of Information requests, show that tens of thousands of young people were denied a proper assessment of their needs, and many more were offered inadequate assistance or advice.
Speaking to The Big Issue, Centrepoint’s research officer Hannah Webster, who conducted the investigation, said: “Only one third of young people who approached councils saying they were, or were at risk, of becoming homeless were give a formal assessment. Over half went for support and left with maybe a leaflet but nothing official.”
As the Homelessness Reduction Act comes into force, local councils have new legal responsibilities to assess anyone facing homelessness, before offering “meaningful assistance” and housing anyone who qualifies as “priority need”.
Centrepoint’s analysis of the FOI responses from local councils found:
- 58 per cent of young people were turned away without any practical support
- Only a third were given a documented housing assessment
- Just 13 per cent were housed
The figures obtained by Centrepoint not only demonstrate the scale of youth homelessness but suggest more funding is urgently required if already cash-strapped councils are to meet their responsibilities to prevent a further rise in youth homelessness.