Supported housing is supposed to be a temporary, safe place for young people who need it, before they move on to their independent lives.
But young people living in supported housing find that taking that next step is impossible. Financial and social barriers mean that their ability to move on is out of their reach and they become trapped in the system.
Half of young people in supported housing said that not being able to save money prevented them from moving on. Almost three in five worried about being able to find somewhere to live and many find that working did not leave them any better off.
We are calling on the Government to ensure that there is more support in place to allow young people to move on to their independent lives when they are ready. To do this they must -
1. Increase support to help young people reduce financial barriers
Young people struggle to move on because of sizeable upfront costs, such as deposits and rental advances, which they cannot afford as well as barriers like being unable to find a guarantor.
2. Help young people afford the basic cost of living
Welfare benefits are too low to meet average rental costs for most young people making private rental properties not a viable option.
3. Grow the number of affordable homes
Majority of private sector housing is not suitable for young people in this position and new builds are not accommodating their needs.
4. Make sure it pays to work
As young people move into employment, they often find they are negatively impacted, limiting their ability to save and afford basic living costs as they get back on their feet.