Teen friend of DC facing homelessness - how can I help?

[Dancemedo]

My DC has a lovely, kind neurodivergent friend aged 18, let's call them "A".

"A" has been experiencing verbal, emotional and financial abuse at home, over a long period of time.

The partner of the parent at home has now got their way and "A" has been told they are being thrown out with nowhere to go.

A is estranged from the other (abusive) parent.

Due to the family struggles setting them back a couple of years "A" is currently doing GCSE's as they want to go on to doing A Levels and then Uni.

As a neuro divergent person with EHCP aged 18, in full time education, at risk of homelessness and experiencing abuse, what options for support do they have?

College safeguarding has said they can't help as A is over 18 which strikes me as totally shit. Does anyone know if an EHCP increases A's options to accessing help from college?

Basically I think "A" needs to go into some kind of care environment but is over 18. Does anyone know if there are more possibilities for a placement with a family/ in care, due to EHCP etc?

"A"s family take and keep all of "A"s PIP benefit and give "A" 20 quid a month, so "A" has no money to mobilise themselves/get a hostal.

Social Services is the obvious route but not easy to navigate alone if you're feeling fragile let alone with additional needs. In my experience you have to have deep reserves again and again to get anywhere with LA and even then.

I'm thinking there must be charities, advocacy, or other agencies that can help "A" to navigate all of this - to be "A"'s voice and legal advocate. Where can "A" get a listening ear apart from Samaritans and friends? Any other suggestions?
They are registered with CAMHS in another part of the country due to having had to move around so much and don't know how to access local CAMHS.

"A" might not be able to make the calls themselves due to ND and distress - they have shared that if it wasn't for their faith they would kill themselves. Obvs this is very very concerning but just telling them they can call a crisis line isn't enough.

I want to give hope and I'm here to look for info.

I want to help "A" and am googling away. I have my hands and mind very full as I am doing palliative care for family.

Where can we turn to help "A" with urgency?

Any leads much appreciated.

Sn they not contact the benefits office and say they are 18 and need the payment direct as no longer living at home?

I tend to think as a vulnerable adult your only option really is to refer through to social services.

One option might be to look up advocacy services for people who can't advocate for themselves?

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/help-from-social-services-and-charities/someone-to-speak-up-for-you-advocate/

I think probably you would need to explain they needed an advocate and I think then social services are obliged to provide one. So if you could get this person over that hump, other things might then be easier to manage?

They do receive it direct but are co-erced to transfer it in entirety to parent who then gives them 20 a month.

that's a great link, thankyou.

The college’s statement is absolutely wrong and quite frankly very concerning. A has care and support needs and is being abused. They need to complete an adult safeguarding concern. If they won’t do it, you can - you should anyway to ensure the social workers get the right information. You can find a link on your local county council website. It should be very straightforward.
If a Social Worker gets involved they can also help A with their housing needs, if care is assessed as needed, or at the very least give advice on where to be referred. I hope they get the help they need.

Thanks for this. Does the college have a duty of care to make the adult safeguarding referral? Online info is confusing me. The student is very much open and consenting to the referral. They are asking for any help. College gave them a card with a homelessness charity on it and said they only have a 1% chance of success in getting housed. That's all they did.

The college does have a duty of care as he is a vulnerable adult, and you could flag that failure to social services but there's no point expecting them to do something well that they've made clear they have no intention of doing at all.

I’ve just had similar whereby I’ve taken on a vulnerable lad but the major issue here is his age. The lad I supported was 17, so social services are far more likely to help as technically they’re still a child. However as PP have suggested, you can still contact social services and note your concerns of a vulnerable adult

It’s a difficult system to navigate and you’re going to spend a lot of time on the phone. He will need to register with the council to get on the housing register. The list is 7 years long where I am but at least I got him on the list, it’s something he can turn to in the future. Then I’d suggest phoning Centrepoint. They were incredibly helpful and understanding with me and they did initially offer him a flat but then someone with a greater need bumped him with a day to go.

My lad did end up going into care, something which won’t happen in your case but he does need flagging to all the local services so that he can start to receive support. Get him down to the job centre so he can register for universal credit. He will need ID so if he hasn’t got a passport, send off for a provisional licence for him.

Good luck.

Are you able to say broadly what part of the country A is in? I have links to a charity that provides funding to projects all over the country supporting young people 16 - 25 in exactly the sort of circumstances you describe.

This is domestic abuse. Parent on child abuse, where the child is over 18, is categorised as domestic abuse.

Your local DA service will be able to help with a managed move, linking in with the local authority for emergency housing, advocacy, and finances including setting up or securing a bank account.

Depending on the level of risk, they may be referred to a Multi Agency Risk Assesment Conference which is attended by the Police, Housing, and Social Care among other agencies.

They are very lucky to have you looking out for you, and I hope that they are safe and secure soon.

Thanks. London

Some GP surgeries now have Social Prescribers. Perhaps they could signpost him to the relevant help?

Ok. Try
Lookahead.org.uk or nhyouthcentre.org.uk

I don't have any direct experience of these two organisations but they are directly supported by a Youth homelessness fundraising organisation I support. I wish you and A the best of luck.

https://england.shelter.org.uk/get_help

make a call to the adult social servicea
in your area,
ask to speak to duty social worker
explain the vulnerabilities -
ND, homelessness, coercive control of finances

They are eighteen.
What could be a secure footing, re: accommodation?
They have faith. Can you help them seek board and lodging with an older, stable women from their church for two years?

Your DC remains friendly so you also have an idea as to the eighteen year old's well being (should the older woman die etc).

Ask the eighteen year old to stop transferring money to their family - now that they do not live at home they need it for their own food. A social worker from the school could help with that logical and practical decision.

Involve all professional help that is available.
The school should know of useful services.

A needs to ask SS to find them a shared lives placement. As over 18 A can claim UC and if living in a shared lives placement with a family A would he able to claim housing benefit which they'd pay to the family for their accommodation. To be shared lives carers the family would need to go through a similar training and assessment programme that foster carers undertake. I'm a foster carer and a shared lives carer.

My friend has very recently taken in a 19 year old who has been financially, mentally and emotionally abused by their mother. Unfortunately, due to this person having money there is no help available and my friend now has them living with her. In your case I'd speak to the local homeless team.