Research Overview
A troubling new study sheds light on how UK councils are mishandling the situation of homeless teenagers.
Many young individuals, particularly those aged 16 and 17, are often placed in temporary accommodations rather than receiving the necessary care that could support them during critical transitional years.
Conducted by the Coram Institute for Children charity, the research reveals a concerning tendency for local authorities to treat these vulnerable adolescents as adults.
This approach delays the support they desperately need until they reach adulthood, diminishing the councils’ responsibilities toward them unless they are recognized as care leavers.
Personal Accounts and Concerns
The findings suggest that a significant number of these teenagers have fled challenging home environments marked by abuse, addiction, or mental health struggles.
Alarmingly, many remain unaware of their rights and entitlements to support.
The insights shared in the Coram report stem from personal accounts given by young people throughout the country, exclusively reported to the Observer.
Coram has been vocal about these issues for over a decade, yet the charity notes that little has changed.
Councils continue to overlook established statutory guidelines, which call for a more caring and supportive response toward homeless youth.
Dr. Carol Homden, the CEO of Coram, emphasized the importance of recognizing the trauma these teenagers face.
Many are escaping abusive family situations and circumstances that have shattered their home life, making it critical for them to receive not just shelter but also emotional support—a fundamental right for everyone, especially young individuals in crisis.
Case Studies
Children’s Commissioner Rachel de Souza also underlined this issue, arguing that teenagers who are forced to leave home should be viewed not just as homeless but as children in need of care.
There were around 6,500 reported cases of 16- and 17-year-olds presenting as homeless between 2022 and 2023, with actual figures likely much higher.
Coram is advocating for improved tracking of these young individuals to better understand their paths, particularly those who make it into the care system.
The report includes the poignant story of Mina, a young woman who, at 17, left her home due to severe physical and emotional abuse.
When she sought help from her local council, she found herself turned away.
Left without options, she relied on the families of her friends for temporary housing while striving to continue her studies.
Frustrated and heartbroken, Mina often wondered if different choices might have changed her circumstances.
Her situation worsened as her mental health declined, yet social services failed to provide the care she needed at the time.
Fortunately, with support from Coram, Mina found an advocate who helped her understand her rights.
This newfound knowledge empowered her to hold the council accountable and ultimately gain access to the educational support and stable housing she needed.
Now attending university, she remains deeply concerned for those peers who might not have similar advocacy.
Sadie’s experience echoes Mina’s; she was placed in a homeless hostel at the age of 17 after the death of her mother and the subsequent collapse of her living arrangements.
For four years, Sadie lived in the hostel, unaware of her entitlement to further assistance from the local authority.
This ignorance led to significant financial struggles as she juggled her expenses while trying to pursue her education.
Only upon reaching out to Coram did she discover her eligibility for care support, which could have extended all the way until she was 25, providing crucial help for education and accommodation.
With Coram’s assistance, Sadie applied for retrospective care status and expressed her frustration at the system for neglecting the obstacles she faced.
Responding to the report’s findings, the Department of Education underscored ongoing reforms aimed at improving the care system.
They reiterated a commitment to prioritizing the welfare of children and enhancing standards for those in care and care leavers.
*To protect their privacy, names in this report have been altered.*
Source: The guardian