What happens if a 17 year old is kicked out of home?

[AllieLove]

What happens?

[AndNowItsSeven]

Social services/council have a duty to house , usually in a hotel or B and B.

[INeedToEat]

It depends Allie. Can you say more about what has happened?

[bluebeck]

england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/homelessness/whats_your_situation/young_people_facing_homelessness

[countingmypennies247]

The council will make contact with the parents first to try to keep the child with them, usually invite them to the offices. As they are over 16 it will be emergency accommodation such as b&b or most likely hostel.

[Ethelswith]

Happened to a friend of mine.

She was scooped up by another family (pretty literally, rather than wandering the streets) but SS had to approve the set up for it to become long term. But whether that can happen is so dependent on circumstances.

I don't want to post much more as it's not really my story, but will say that her school's strong opinion about the desirability of her remaining with that family appeared to be influential.

[Offred]

Depends who is watching, who finds out, what the 17 year old does and what anyone who knows does.

[PurpleDaisies]

What's behind the question? I have a friend who went through a similar thing to ethel.

[Offred]

I went through a similar thing. It wrecked my entire life.

[Hepzibar]

They present themselves,at Homekessness as a Child in Need. Local Authority have a duty of care and to accommodate all CIN.

They will make contact with parents/carers to see if the child can return home.

The young person is elligible for Income Support as long as they are not living with someone who is acting as a parent/carer. If they are the carer can claim the child benefit instead.

[fingersandthumbs]

If they are 17 they should still be in education. If so tell them to speak to the safeguarding officer at their school or college. They will have contact details not just for SS but for local organisations who are used to dealing with this sort of situation and can help with mediation, if appropriate, and finding accommodation and helping the young person into supported living to make them ready for independent living. This would include helping them to claim any benefits that they are entitled to including not just Government benefits but college welfare payments etc.

[SleightOfMind]

Happened to me just before my 17th. Spent 3 mnths sharing a room in a homeless hostel with a very sweet but totally screwed up solvent sniffer before getting a room on my own.
Carried on with my A-levels through bloody mindedness and was fine eventually. It was a terrifying and upsetting time. Not something I ever dwell on.
I'm in my 40s & I think there's a lot more pressure on SS and housing nowadays. Definitely to be avoided.

[MatildaTheCat]

Ime they sofa surf and fall under the radar of SS. SS will only become involved if they have to. Housing will put them into emergency accommodation if they do present but it may be far away or a hostel which is very unsavoury. Sorry but it is not a pretty picture.

[Hepzibar]

fingers is correct. If they are in full time education (college, sixth form) and are in receipt of Income Support or are accommodated under S20, then they are entitled to guaranteed bursary (£30 p.w), this is in addition to the Income Support and housing benefit.

[Offred]

I agree with Matilda. I mean really what 17 year old that has been kicked out knows what to do, what they are entitled to and how to claim it? Most people don't notice a teen is homeless IME. Most of the time they end up sofa surfing and doing what they can to get by.

[SleightOfMind]

Allie, can you tell us anything about this girl? There may be ways to stop this happening.
I might have sounded a bit blase earlier but it really was horrible & I was lucky to have escaped as unscathed as I did - tutors at my college were wonderful.

[fakenamefornow]

Can I just put a more positive side.

I left my parents house at 15 (I'm now 47) and moved about 200 miles away. I lived in a homeless shelter (lying about my age) got a job, sofa surfed, rented rooms, did what I could. This might sound awful but my life was improved beyond all measure compared to living with my parents. I don't know this girls situation but it's quite possible she will also be better off out of her parents house.

[Manumission]

I mean really what 17 year old that has been kicked out knows what to do, what they are entitled to and how to claim it? Most people don't notice a teen is homeless IME. Most of the time they end up sofa surfing and doing what they can to get by.

Yes indeed

[fakenamefornow]

I don't agree, I coped well, and was much better off.

[Manumission]

You were cannier than us then

[SleightOfMind]

Fake, you're right. We don't know anything about this girl's situation.

[Manumission]

Allie are you coming back to the thread to expand?

[BratFarrarsPony]

They get housed with a load of ex offenders and told to go on JSA and that they dont need any more education.
In Wales anyway.

[AllieLove]

Sorry.

Friends daughter turned up on doorstep. Mum won't let her stay unless she pays but she doesn't have any money. I can't keep her on (as much as I'd love to)

[Manumission]

There are probably a million different answers depending on who, where, why and how much support they're getting from what source.

So offred and matilda had it really.

[Manumission]

Unless she pays?

What's wrong with your friend?

Is she staying with you just for tonight? Is she safe for tonight?

Can you please make sure that she gets some kind of Social Services oversight and isn't left to bounce around alone (speaking as someone who did just that at 17 )?