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Making homeless young people count: The scale of youth homelessness in the UK

Hannah Webster and Stacy Wairumbi

This report centres on findings from Centrepoint’s analysis of data collected for the 2017/18 Youth Homelessness Databank. It updates findings from previous years, including Centrepoint’s estimate of the national scale of youth homelessness. Where possible, comparisons are made between 2016/17 and 2017/18 findings to understand youth homelessness over the past two years. The research also focuses mainly on findings in England; however data from the devolved nations is included where possible.

Research / Policy

What does a good professional relationship look like for homeless young people?

Phillip Mullen, PhD candidate in the Department of Geography at Newcastle University

This report brings together the voices of members of staff and young people to evaluate what a positive professional looks like for young people. The report offers some ideas for others to take forward in order to build and maintain positive professional relationships with young people, in order to ensure young people engage with and get the best support possible

The Youth Obligation in Universal Credit briefing

Abigail Gill, Policy and Research Manager

Young people, aged 18 to 21, who claim Universal Credit will be required, from April 2017, to participate in an intensive regime of support from day one of their benefit claim. After six months they should be offered an apprenticeship or traineeship, gain work-based skills, or undertake a work placement to give them the skills they need to move into sustainable employment.

Manifesto for homeless young people: London mayoral elections 2020

Centrepoint is calling on London Mayoral candidates to commit to taking urgent action on youth homelessness.

Exempting homeless young people and care leavers from the Shared Accommodation Rate

Under current welfare rules, thousands of vulnerable young people are at risk of homelessness, as they cannot afford to cover the cost of renting in the private rental sector. The amount of financial support someone in receipt of benefits can claim for their rent is calculated according to the Local Housing Allowance (LHA). The LHA is based on average rents in an area, and includes different rates depending on the size of the property that the claimant is thought to need. Most people under the age of 35 are only eligible for the lowest rate of LHA, the Shared Accommodation Rate. This is based on the cost of renting a room in a shared house.

Chance to Move On: make Universal Credit fair for young people living independently

Universal Credit should provide a safety net for everyone. Yet the UC system unfairly assumes that all under-25s can rely on family for financial support. This is not the case for many young people living independently who cannot live safely at home, particularly those who have been in care or experienced homelessness.

Coronavirus & homelessness accommodation briefing

The COVID-19 pandemic poses unprecedented risks to all, but those experiencing or at risk of homelessness are especially vulnerable. Charities like Centrepoint, Depaul UK, St Mungo’s and Homeless Link which provide accommodation for people who are homeless are determined to do everything it takes to maintain the high level of service we deliver all year round, yet the sector needs vital support from the government to do this.

Youth homelessness & coronavirus: phase 2 briefing

Coronavirus has been an unprecedented challenge for charities working to support homeless people. Since MHCLG issued the ‘Everybody In’ directive at the end of March, approximately 5,400 rough sleepers have been placed in emergency accommodation.1 The instruction was clear - ‘focus on people who are, or are at risk of, sleeping rough, and those who are in accommodation where it is difficult to self-isolate, such as shelters and assessment Centres.

Exemptions to the shared accommodation rate for care leavers and young people in homeless hostels

A policy briefing about the new exemption from the Shared Accommodation Rate for care leavers, which means that groups of young people who are in receipt of either Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit will be eligible to claim the self-contained, one-bed rate of the Local Housing Allowance within Universal Credit, instead of the Shared Accommodation Rate.

The impact of the cost-of-living crisis on homeless young people

Despite the support from the government with the Energy Price Guarantee and Cost of Living Support schemes, the increase in the cost of living has dramatically worsened the conditions of the most vulnerable households, with inflation often named ‘the most regressive tax of all’.