Report: 'Councils failing to protect homeless teenagers' 

Councils in England are failing to protect thousands of teenagers who face homelessness by turning them away when they seek help, according to new research by The Children’s Society.

‘Getting the House in Order,’ a new report launched today (Friday 20 March) shows that each year 12,000 homeless 16 and 17-year-olds ask councils for help with housing. The report reveals that almost half are turned away. Councils are breaking the law by failing to even assess them.
 
More than 80 per cent of homeless 16 and 17-year-olds do not receive accommodation. Almost half (45%) of older homeless teenagers who asked for help did not receive an assessment.
 
The research based on Freedom of Information Requests – sent to 353 local councils and compiled from 259 responses – also reveals that homeless 16 and17–year-olds are rarely given the same support as children in care such as access to an advocate or financial support.
 
Liam Hill, 22, a youth mentor, who now lives in Staffordshire, became homeless aged 16 after his relationship with his mum broke down. “I was passed from pillar to post and given no support from the council,” he said. “They put me in a cramped, cold room in a B&B that had no hot water, then in a hostel where people tried to sell me drugs all the time.”
 
“These teenagers are being hung out to dry," said Matthew Reed, Chief Executive of The Children's Society, which helps vulnerable young people at risk of abuse and exploitation. "They are facing huge dangers from predators who seek to abuse or exploit them. Councils need to do much more to protect these vulnerable teenagers. Every teenager deserves a safe place to live.”
 
The Children’s Society is calling for councils to join up their services and make sure that all teenagers who seek help for homelessness are assessed and given adequate support. B&B accommodation should be banned completely and hostels and supported accommodation should be regulated.
 
Read the full report here