Shelter launches campaign to advise young people

September 13, 2005 in Community Care

Housing charity Shelter has launched a new campaign to stem
rising homelessness among young people, such as care leavers, who
are less inclined to seek advice from mainstream services,
writes Simeon Brody.

A study out yesterday, which launches the charity’s first
advice website for young people, finds that almost half of young
people aged 16 to 25 do not know where to turn when they face
housing problems.

The YouGov poll also reveals that a quarter of young people said
their landlords had entered their property without permission. And
60 per cent of young renters wrongly think they can be legally
evicted with just one month’s notice.

The website offers practical and legal advice on tenants’
rights and dealing with rogue landlords, and targeted information
for care leavers and students. It will be accompanied by a
three-year Know Your Rights campaign.

Shelter director Adam Sampson said: “From students to care
leavers, many young people are at risk of suffering in bad housing
or even becoming homeless simply because they don’t know
their housing rights.”