YOUNG HOMELESS NEED BETTER SUPPORT

9.22.00pm GMT Mon 20th Nov 2006

YOUNG HOMELESS NEED BETTER SUPPORT

Cllr Dennis Hullock (Lib Dem, Dewsbury East) wants young people in Kirklees who are made homeless following a breakdown in the relationships they have with their parents to be given better help.

Between Oct 2005 and September 2006, more than half of all cases (54.9%) in Kirklees where young people aged between 16 & 24 became homeless involved a breakdown in the parental relationship which resulted in the parents deciding they were no longer willing to provide accomodation to their children. This is 239 cases out of 435 (1).

Cllr Hullock says: "These figures reveal a worrying trend"

Cllr Hullock says: "Instances of parents reaching breaking point and deciding that they can no longer offer accomodation to their children is becoming much more common".

Cllr Hullock says: "Young girls are the most likely to find themselves in these difficult circumstances. They make up 64% of the total number of homeless cases where there has been a breakdown in the parent-child relationship. Being young and going through difficulties makes these girls among the most vulnerable in our communities. There are individuals out there who will try to take advantage of this sort of situation. If we consider that about 50% of these young girls will also have a child, then the situation becomes even more concerning".

Cllr Hullock says: "I am pleased by the Government's recent promise to limit the amount of B&B places used to accommodate young people who are made homeless. However, I don't think this goes far enough. This practice is dangerous and unhelpful. Putting young vulnerable people in a place where they have no immediate support network or adult supervision is not acceptable."

Cllr Hullock says: "If spent wisely, the 164m package that has been announced should allow better types of accomodation to be set up for young homeless people where they can live and get the support and advice they need. Mediation support should also be given to the young people to resolve the issues they have with their families and to see if they can find a way to return home."

Cllr Hullock concluded: "Ideally, more money should also be invested in providing services that will intervene before a serious breakdown in the parental relationship occurs. Peer mentoring from those who have experienced homelessness at a young age has been very effective in other areas and might be a way forward in Kirklees. "