Housing for young people: New developments in legislation, ways of working and prevention

Abstract

This article looks at some of the housing issues facing young people. It summarises recent legislative changes and considers the challenge posed by the Homelessness Act to develop effective multiagency responses to preventing homelessness among young people. The Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 imposed new and stronger duties on social services to support young people before and after leaving care. The Homelessness Act introduced a new duty on local authorities to draw up a strategy to prevent homelessness and the recent Priority Need Order extended entitlement to housing help to include homeless young people. The measures outlined in this article should help challenge the current patchy practice of inter‐agency co‐operation, and promote a strategy for better co‐ordinated and more effective ways of dealing with the particular housing needs of young people who have left home or care.

Citation

Jackson, A. (2002), "Housing for young people: New developments in legislation, ways of working and prevention", Housing, Care and Support, Vol. 5 No. 4, pp. 4-7. https://doi.org/10.1108/14608790200200026