Where can my 16 DS go if he leaves home.

[julieann42]

Major disagreement tonight, after I asked him if he had taken drugs.i asked this after a recent change in behaviour and moods..he claimed nothing was wrong so I asked about the drugs? He is cross I accused him of being a druggie. He has threatened to leave home..no family close by so where else could he go and be safe if he left here..I'm not sure, as i know 16 they can leave home but with no money where does a 16 year old go?

He is entitled to housing support as a 16-18 year old if he becomes homeless. They have to provide interim accommodation while somewhere else is sorted. Even then it is complicated if he doesn't work. Loads of loopholes in legislation too so tricky process.
Hostels, YMCA etc all provide short term places.
Depends on his financial position. Just like an adult, he will only have somewhere to stay if he earns money to pay rent or proves himself legible for benefits.

He is too young to leave home. He needs you caring and supporting him. How is the relationship generally? What stage of his education is he? What does he want to do? If you are worried about his behaviour (taking drugs) at the moment what do you think would happen if he was fending for himself?

He would have to present to the housing dept as homeless. They would only accept him as such if you refuse to gave him home - they may contact you to confirm that. If you tell them that you want him home they will not house him. If you say he cannot come home they are obliged to help him. That may take different forms depending on what is available in your area - hostel, B&B (usually crap ones), supported accommodation. He may be offered some support from children's services - they may act as mediators to try to get him home.
It's not easy leaving home at 16....it comes as a harsh shock to most 16 year olds. You don't just get put in a nice flat - the accommodation options are usually pretty limited.

He did leave at midnight climbing out the window! However as I've seen on previous posts when other people have had simlar issues, I had said to him earlier we don't want you to leave, we love you and this is your home. By 00.40 he was home! It's a cold night out there and no wifi probably comes as a shock too! I spotted him lurking outside the outside and asked him to come back..he said he would so long as we didn't talk to him, I guess he may be a little ashamed! He has gone to bed and I'm going to try and get some sleep to! I do however remain worried about my caring nd loving son who has changed so much. Tomorrow is another day!

My son did this after we had a similar argument 5 years back. At 16 he presented himself next morning as homeless after storming out of the house. The housing department actually rang me to check the facts and invited me in for a meeting. They mediated things between DS and I and we went home together.

We kept telling him we loved him and this was his home but kept to the house rules and he would always come back after an argument. I guess he loved his own bed and home comforts!

Glad your son came back to sparkle..we just need to talk now but I'm a little worried he may get cross and go again or maybe last nights adventure in the freezing cold may have cured his wonderlust!

If OP's DS refused to go home, would the authorities still be obliged to house him? Or would OP have to confirm that she was refusing him? It seems like a loophole, where a teen who needs an escape wouldn't be able to unless willing to sleep on the streets. I hope I have that wrong.