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Youth Homelessness

Here at St Basils we recognise that the causes of youth homelessness are a combination of intertwined individual and structural factors.

Anyone can be affected by homelessness, but for some it is more likely. Some will reach crisis, some will need to recover- but all are affected by a shortage of affordable housing.

National Youth homelessness statistics

Youth homelessness is defined as young people aged 16-25 who have no permanent fixed address or have been served an eviction notice.

  • 118,134 young people in the UK asked for help from their local council in 2023/2024 because they were homeless or at risk of homelessness

  • One young person became homeless approximately every 4 minutes in the UK in 2023/24

  • 1 in 62 young people were estimated to be facing homelessness in 2023-2024.

  • 7,603 young people were homeless in the West Midlands in 2023/2024

  • 33% of young people who reached out to their local authority for support were not assessed.

    [source: Centrepoint]

The Table Analogy

Structural factors putting pressure on young people or their families

  • Poverty

  • Inequality

  • Housing supply

  • Affordable Housing

  • Unemployment

  • Low wages on Apprenticeship schemes

  • Insecure Employment

  • Welfare Reform including Universal Credit and other policy failures

  • Freezing Local Housing Allowance levels

Individual factors affecting the young person or their family

  • Poor physical or mental health

  • Bereavement

  • Violence and Abuse

  • Trauma

  • Drug or Alcohol issues

  • Experience of Care and/or prison

Top Causes of Youth Homelessness in England

Family Breakdown
Relationship breakdown, particularly between young people and their parents or step-parents, is a significant cause of youth homelessness. Many young people end up leaving home due to ongoing conflicts or a breakdown in family relationships.

Leaving Care
A considerable number of young people experiencing homelessness have been in the care system. They often face the challenge of living independently at a young age, without the support of a stable family environment. The traumas and instability they encounter early in life make them some of the most vulnerable members of our communities.

Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Some young people experiencing homelessness are refugees or asylum seekers who arrive as unaccompanied minors, fleeing violence or persecution in their home countries. Without any family support, they may find themselves with nowhere to turn and end up on the streets.

Exclusion from School
Being out of formal education can make it much harder for young people to get help with personal or health-related issues. A lack of education also poses significant barriers to finding employment and building a stable future.

Violent Crime
Involvement or problems with violent crime can lead young people into homelessness. If staying in their local area or in their local community becomes too dangerous, they may find themselves with no safe place to stay.

Escaping Violence
Many young people become homeless when they need to escape from a hostile or abusive environment, leaving them with nowhere to go.

Physical and Mental Health
Young people experiencing homelessness often deal with a range of complex issues, including mental health challenges such as depression or anxiety, and difficulties related to substance misuse.