Shelter seeks action for young homeless

September 16, 2005 in Community Care

Housing charity Shelter has launched a new campaign to stem
rising homelessness among young people.

A study this week, 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 because they don’t know their housing
rights.”