Housing support

Care leavers’ accommodation options should be discussed and set out in the Pathway Plan. There are a range of different options available for young people at 18, including ‘Staying Put’, living with a birth family member, supported lodgings, supported accommodation schemes or moving into their own independent accommodation.

The Homelessness Reduction Act (2017) made provision for young people who leave care to register for council housing either in their ‘home’ area or in the area where they were living in foster care, by permitting them to declare a “local connection” in either area. This can help a young person remain living where they have established support networks and where they might still be studying or working.

Care leavers have a “priority need” for council housing and their wait for housing will therefore be reduced. There is, however, a shortage of council accommodation and they might be offered an opportunity to move into privately rented accommodation, with support from the Local Authority in paying the deposit and any advance rent required.

Care leavers will receive a ‘setting up home allowance’ from their Local Authority when they move into their own independent accommodation. This is used to pay for household items such as white goods and furniture. The government has recommended that this allowance is no less than £2000. We recommend that young people also use the savings that they receive when they turn 18 to supplement this allowance, as it is difficult to buy everything that a young person needs and wants with £2000.