General Article Young and homeless

Topic Selected: Homelessness
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Young people often get frustrated or impatient about things, from the stress of exams, to what they should wear at a party. However, every year in the UK around 75,000 young people aged 16–24 have more serious concerns to think about: food, shelter and health. Because of circumstances over which they have little say or control, such as family rejection, leaving long-term care, or living illegally in the UK, they have become homeless.

The law requires every council in the UK to house 16- and 17-year-olds who are homeless or are in an unsafe situation. However, once you turn 18, or if you do not qualify for council emergency housing, you could easily fall outside of the law and find that no one has any obligation to provide you with accommodation. This could result in long-term homelessness.

At the age of 16, due to circumstances that weren’t my fault, I found myself homeless. Although I was not kicked out of my family home, it had become impossible to continue living there whilst t...

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