Barnardo's research and experience show that children and young people leaving the care system in the UK face homelessness due to a lack of safe, suitable, and affordable accommodation. The organization highlights that the limited availability of housing, combined with financial vulnerability, often forces young people into unsuitable and unsafe living conditions or leaves them with nowhere to go, underscoring the need for better support and housing solutions from the government. 

Why Young People Are Homeless After Leaving Care

Lack of Suitable Housing:

There is a severe shortage of safe and appropriate places for young people to live when they leave care. 

Financial Instability:

Care leavers often lack the financial support that other young people receive from their families, making it hard to afford housing and increasing their risk of homelessness. 

Unsafe Living Conditions:

Instead of appropriate housing, many care leavers are placed in unsuitable environments, such as homes with extreme mold, damp, or that expose them to drug abuse and antisocial behavior. 

Insufficient Support:

Young people leaving care often experience a sudden drop in support, and they struggle with independent living, managing their finances, and feeling lonely and isolated. 

Barnardo's Response

Reporting on Experiences:

Barnardo's conducts and publishes reports, such as "No Place Like Home," which detail the experiences of young people leaving care to raise awareness and advocate for change. 

Providing Direct Support:

The charity offers various forms of support, including accommodation in places like their Gap Homes projects, which provide affordable housing and support for care leavers. 

Advocating for Policy Change:

Barnardo's urges the government to increase funding and implement support packages to help care-experienced young people transition successfully into independent adult life. 

Key Statistics and Challenges

High Risk of Homelessness:

A significant number of care leavers become homeless shortly after leaving care, with one in three care leavers aged 19-21 having experienced homelessness. 

Impact of Cost of Living Crisis:

The rising cost of living has disproportionately affected care leavers, who have no family support to fall back on, leading to increased financial hardship.