"I in 4 twenty-somethings leave home on an ‘open return’, but homelessness threatens those on a one way ticket", says SCSH

New research from the Social Market Foundation shows a quarter of twenty-somethings are still living with their parents. Furthermore those leaving home do so on an "open return ticket" with 1 in 4 returning home twice or more. However, the Scottish Council for Single Homeless are urging housing providers not to forget young people who can’t rely on a family home.

Disproportionate numbers of young people are experiencing homelessness and having to sleep rough. Nearly 16 000 are presenting as homeless each year according to official records. With extremely limited affordable housing options, lower wages, cuts in student grants and restricted access to welfare benefits, young people without the luxury of family support are at greater risk of homelessness than ever, says John Dickie, Head of SCSH’s Youth Unit.

"Thisnew research highlights the increasing reliance of young people on their parents to provide support and housing well into their twenties. However we must not forget those young people who don’t have that option. Young people who are leaving care. Young people escaping violent and abusive families. Young people whose families just don’t have the finances to help out.

Without affordable rented housing and adequate support services these are the young people who do end up fleeing the nest, but end up crashing not flying, living on our streets, or in hostels and shabby B&B’s. Local authorities need to develop housing strategies that meet their needs, and the Executive needs to provide substantially increased resources to create decent housing and support ."

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Notes

• According to Scottish Executive Statistical Bulletin HSG/2000/5, of the 45700 households applying to local authorities as homeless, 35% were aged under 25. Furthermore the Executives Rough Sleeper Initiative Interim Evaluation found 42% of RSI service users were under 25.
• For those young people who are housed research shows up to 70% of tenancies allocated to young people breaking down within six months.
• For details of the research contact the Social Market Foundation www.smf.co.uk . 
• The Youth Unit of Scottish Council for Single Homeless has been established with funding from the Executive to encourage and support the development of Youth Housing Strategies across Scotland .
• SCSH is the national membership organisation for individuals and organisations working with homeless people