Beyond the Headlines: Homelessness and care experience

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This is the second in a series of our Beyond the Headlines briefings aiming to provide further information and analysis on some commonly reported statistics relating to children and young people in care, care leavers, and care experienced people in Scotland.

In this briefing, we explore the extent to which we understand how homelessness disproportionately affects the lives of care experienced young people, and consider what more can be done to further our understanding of the factors that cause homelessness so this can be addressed. To support further discussion and debate, we also raise some key questions and talking points.

The briefing raises the following questions for debate and discussion:

• How can authorities support care experienced young people to access the Continuing Care they are entitled to?
• Why are young people with care experience still being moved on from their accommodation when they have ceased being 'looked after', contrary to the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014?
• Why are some young care leavers still presenting as homeless from / to their own corporate parents?
• How can care experienced young people be helped to develop more of a sense of security when they eventually move on to more independent living?
• How can data help us understand ‘hidden homelessness’ to inform provision to meet needs?

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