New law protects care leavers from homelessness – how the big change will work

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Care leavers – who often lack the support networks other young people have – are left vulnerable to housing instability, leading them to getting into debt or losing their tenancies

Care leavers will no longer be considered “intentionally homeless” under a new change in the law passed by Labour.

Local authorities are not legally obliged to provide long-term housing to people found to be intentionally homeless – such as those who neglect to pay their rent or deliberately leave their home.

But care leavers – who often lack the support networks other young people have – are left vulnerable to housing instability, leading them to getting into debt or losing their tenancies.

Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister said: “Care leavers, without the safety net of family support that so many of us rely on, often face their challenges alone.

“This support can be the difference between building a stable future or falling through the cracks.”

Under the new rules, care leavers up to the age of 25, where the local council is their ‘parent’, cannot be found to be ‘intentionally homeless’.

Local authorities will be expected work with Children’s Services to offer ongoing support to care leavers.

That means helping them to find and keep suitable accommodation and offering support with accessing services relating to health and wellbeing, relationships, education and training, employment and participating fully in society.

The change was introduced as an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools bill this week.

Ms Rayner said she was proud to bring the change forward, adding: “It will ensure councils, as a corporate parent, make sure care leavers are not left without a place to call home or held back by the hand they were dealt at the start of their life.

“We will make sure their future is shaped by their potential, not their past.”

Children’s Minister, Janet Daby said: “Having been a social worker for over seventeen years, I recognise the many challenges that children face through no fault of their own.

“This government is determined to break the link between a child’s background and the opportunities they have in life. We want to make sure that they are fully supported as they make the transition into adulthood and are not left to fend for themselves with housing, jobs and life skills.

“With these latest additions to our landmark Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill we will transform children’s life chances and build secure foundations for their futures.”