Housing Benefit provides a safety net to young people, without which they would not be able to access accommodation. For those at a point of crisis, removal of housing support could also push vital homelessness services out of reach.
Young and Homeless 2015, a survey of homelessness service providers and local authority housing departments, indicates that the problem is compounded by wider welfare reforms and lack of affordable and shared housing:Â
- 95% of homelessness services reported that benefit sanctions have affected young people’s ability to access accommodation.
- 73% reported that the extension of the Shared Accommodation Rate – which limits the amount of housing benefit young people can receive in the private rented sector – has greatly affected young people’s ability to access accommodation.
- On average, the time spent in homelessness services was 16 months, almost twice as long as in last year’s survey (8.5 months).
This third annual Young & Homeless report from the UK explores the reasons young people became homeless in 2015, the support available to them, and areas that need to be improved.
