Homelessness risk

Local authorities must ensure young people are not at risk
because they lack safe accommodation, says youth homelessness
charity Centrepoint and the Suzy Lamplugh Trust.

The two charities call on local authorities to develop a code of
practice on placing children and vulnerable young people in units
run by the voluntary and private sectors.

Councils must fulfil the requirement to provide on-going support
to young people who are found accommodation and the government must
provide the extra resources, they say in a report.

They also call on the government to define which young people
are ‘vulnerable’ and ‘seriously prejudiced’ and therefore entitled
to accommodation.

The report warns that anyone can provide accommodation targeted
at young people – voluntary and private sector agencies providing
for homeless people aged 16 and above are not regulated.

Local authorities are increasingly using the private rented
sector and supported lodging schemes to house young people as the
Children Act laid down specific duties to care leavers.

And there are only three refuges for young people who run away
from home or care.