16P0007

Written evidence submitted by Centrepoint

Summary

Introduction

1. Centrepoint is the leading national charity working with homeless young people aged 16 to 25. We are a registered social housing provider, a charity enterprise and a company limited by guarantee. Established 40 years ago, we provide accommodation and support to help homeless young people get their lives back on track.

2. One in five (20 per cent) of the young people Centrepoint works with are care leavers, many of whom face a number of challenges to moving onto independent living. To increase the support options available to young people, Centrepoint operates a supported lodgings scheme working to place young people with carefully selected and trained host families.

3. Centrepoint welcomes the Committee’s focus on support for young care leavers who are often amongst the most vulnerable.

Supported lodgings

4. Although the support needs for young people differ, some require a lower level of support and are able to actively participate in education, training and some aspects of independent living.

5. Last year, Centrepoint launched its supported lodgings scheme which offers young people the opportunity to live in the home of an approved person, known as a 'supported lodgings host' for between two months and two years. The scheme includes comprehensive training, 24 hour telephone support from Centrepoint, regular meetings with a Centrepoint support worker, access to a peer support network for hosts, and access to a web-based forum.

6. Hosts offer support with practical skills like cooking and shopping, encouragement and guidance to the young person in their care, allowing an individual to live in a family home, experiencing domestic life in a shared and supportive environment. Research has shown that young people in supported lodgings achieve positive outcomes in finding paid work and taking up training, participating in social activities and re-establishing or maintaining contact with family and friends.[1] It can also significantly reduce the exposure of young people to negative environments and risky behaviours, such as illegal drug use.[2]

7. Research has found that supported lodgings work best for those willing to engage with individuals, especially their host, those who are able to regulate their behaviour to the rules of the host home, and those who are ready to engage with positive activities such as education and training.[3]

8. Centrepoint’s supported lodging scheme is available to all young people in our services, including care leavers and non-care leavers. However, local authorities such as Lewisham offer similar schemes that are specifically tailored to care leavers.[4]

9. As research indicates that supported lodgings are extremely cost-effective in enabling positive outcomes for young people in making a successful transition to independent living, local authorities should give more consideration to how this offer can be utilised. [5]

Supported housing

10. Whilst supported lodgings offer many benefits, there will remain some young people, including care leavers, who require additional support. Unfortunately, many of the young people Centrepoint works with are not yet in a position to fully engage or are ready to be considered for a support lodgings place. Instead these young people require a higher level of support as they begin a step-by-step process to independent living. It is crucial that these young people have access to the ongoing support they require, through suitable models of supported accommodation.

11. It is therefore crucial to ensure that funding is available for a range of different options in each local authority area so that young people are able to access an option that meets their individual needs.

Continued inappropriate use of temporary accommodation in some areas

12. Local authorities have had a duty to accommodate homeless 16 and 17 year olds since they were the made a priority need group by the 2002 Homelessness (Priority Need for Accommodation) (England) Order, later strengthened under a 2009 House of Lords ruling commonly known as the Southwark Judgment.

13. This judgment outlines that every homeless 16 or 17 year old presenting to a local authority should receive a ‘child in need’ assessment to determine if they are eligible for support from children’s services.

14. If found to be homeless, most 16 or 17 year olds should be given support under the Children Act and become ‘looked after’, rather than just be provided accommodation by the housing department. This would give children’s services an ongoing duty to accommodate and support that young person which may continue to the age of 21 (and in some cases to the age of 24).
    
15. Despite this judgement, research from Homeless Link has found that some local authorities are not fulfilling their duties. The research found that 59 per cent of the 16 and 17 year olds who approached councils in 2012/13 were not referred directly to children’s services and fewer than half were not referred to children’s services at any time during their homelessness assessment. It also found that 8 per cent were housed in Bed & Breakfasts and 9 per cent were housed in shared accommodation with adults, which goes against statutory guidance on the issue.[6]

16. Many young people who have come to Centrepoint from Bed & Breakfast accommodation have reported negative experiences. For many, the temporary nature of the accommodation is deeply unsettling whilst the often hostile environment makes it very difficult for young people to adjust and focus on aspects of their lives such as gaining qualifications and finding employment.

17. Although many local authorities are meeting the duty placed on them, more needs to be done including better resourcing children’s services to ensure no 16 or 17 year old is left without a proper assessment and adequate support if eligible.

Conclusion

18. Whilst the majority of councils are doing their best to fulfil their duties under the Southwark Judgement, research has shown that too many young people are not receiving the support they need. Local authorities need to ensure that they are following guidance in all cases with central government providing necessary funding, including for suitable accommodation for those eligible for support.

19. Centrepoint believes there is significant scope for the supported lodgings model to be extended to provide suitable support for care leavers across the country, particularly given the cost effective nature of support and positive outcomes for young people who are ready for this form of support.

20. Centrepoint would be pleased to work with the Committee as they continue to consider 16 plus care options.

February 2014