A stark new warning reveals the devastating reality for young people leaving the care system in the UK, with a third experiencing homelessness within just two years of their departure.
The 'Care Cliff' and a Vanishing Safety Net
Anela Anwar, the chief executive of the national charity Become, which supports children in care and young care leavers, has issued a powerful call for change. While welcoming a recent government initiative to provide free eye tests and prescriptions for care leavers, she argues it fails to address the most critical emergency they face.
Every year, thousands of young people are forced out of the care system, often on their 18th birthday or even younger. This abrupt transition sees vital support vanish overnight, plunging them into instability. Many are placed into unsuitable temporary accommodation like bed and breakfasts or hostels, where they frequently report feeling unsafe and insecure.
A Struggle for Stability in Adult Life
The challenges for these vulnerable young adults are immense and multifaceted. After being pushed into housing they cannot call a home, they must then navigate the complex responsibilities of managing household bills for the first time. This financial pressure occurs while they are simultaneously trying to continue their education or secure stable employment, creating a perfect storm of difficulty.
The core demand from Become is for the government to end what it terms the 'care cliff'. The charity insists that young people should not be compelled to leave care before they are ready and prepared for independent living.
A Call for Holistic, Long-Term Support
To truly give care leavers a fighting chance, Anwar advocates for a comprehensive package of support spanning several key areas of life. This integrated approach must cover stable and suitable housing, accessible physical and mental health services, continued educational opportunities, and pathways into meaningful employment.
Crucially, this must be backed by sustained financial assistance to prevent the immediate slide into poverty and homelessness. Only by tackling support across housing, health, education, and employment simultaneously can the state hope to provide care leavers with the foundation they need for a successful start to adulthood.
The charity's intervention highlights a systemic failure, where responsibility for looked-after children appears to end abruptly at 18, despite the clear evidence that their need for guidance and support extends far beyond this arbitrary age limit.
