A safe and secure home is the foundation for young people to build fulfilling lives.
However, our recent research Getting the system working for young survivors of domestic abuse shows that the housing system is continuing to fail young survivors. Too often, systemic barriers to accessing support drives these vulnerable young people into homelessness.
Local authorities and the housing system must be more effective for young people experiencing domestic abuse, protecting them from unsafe environments and providing safe and appropriate housing.
Local authorities should support early prevention of homelessness for young survivors
In FY 2025-2026, 6,420 young people who reached out to a local authority had been forced into homelessness, or were at risk of it, because of domestic abuse. More must be done to reach young survivors before violence escalates and they are forced to flee with nowhere safe to go.
How can this be improved?
Local authorities should work more closely with the education and health sectors so those already interacting with young survivors can identify if they are at risk of homelessness because of domestic abuse, and what support is available.
Local authorities are gatekeeping young survivors from homelessness assessments
What is gatekeeping?
Local authorities legally must provide all young people who present as homeless with an assessment. But currently this is not the case for many young survivors.
Around 1 in 5 gatekeeping cases received by our Helpline involve local authorities denying support to young survivors of domestic abuse. This includes telling young survivors they are not priority need or not getting back in touch with them.
What is the solution?
More specialist staff and training for housing officers are needed so local authorities can better understand domestic abuse in young people. This can help stop young survivors from being turned away from support.
To break the cycle of abuse, safe and supported accommodation options must be given to young survivors
How can this happen?
- Safe emergency housing: Many young survivors are ending up in temporary accommodation for long periods of time where there is no age-appropriate support offer. The Government must work with local authorities to provide more youth-specific emergency safe and supported housing in local areas.
- Stable move on housing: Social housing offers that local authorities provide should be in an appropriate location for young survivors with safeguarding teams and resources.
Being provided with a safe, stable home environment should be a given for any young person. Housing services must play a key role in providing this safety to young survivors of domestic abuse, giving them the environment, support, and tools to rebuild their lives.