Support for care leavers

Any care leaver who becomes homeless will receive support from Oldham Council up to the age of 25, following a decision by councillors. 

It was decided at Monday night's cabinet meeting that care leavers will receive continued support and won't face being made 'intentionally homeless'. 

Council chiefs say the authority is committed to its role as a corporate parent, including young people who have left their care upon reaching adulthood. 

Under current homelessness legislation, young people who were formerly in care between the ages of 18 and 20 are automatically in ‘priority need’ - which isn't guaranteed for those aged between 21 and 24, unless they are found to be ‘vulnerable’.

Councils may consider whether young people have made themselves intentionally homeless through their own deliberate act or omission – thus limiting the support they will be entitled to.

By agreeing that all care leavers under the age of 25 are in priority need and not looking at whether they have become homeless intentionally, there will be a duty to provide temporary and permanent accommodation for all these young people.

By raising this to 25, the council say it will potentially mean the chances of care leavers becoming homeless as they get older will decrease. 

‘Personal Advisers to 25’ are in place to give support and help.

The council says that, although it doesn't have to adopt this approach by law, it sees it as its duty of care when it comes to supporting young people as the Corporate Parent and the support has been put in place after feedback from Oldham’s Children in Care Council.

Councillor Hannah Roberts (pictured), Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “We know that care leavers face unique and difficult challenges as they grow into adults.

“It is our duty to support these young people, some of which have faced tough challenges early in life, especially when it comes to housing as everyone deserves a warm and decent roof over their heads." 

Councillor Amanda Chadderton, Cabinet member for Children’s Services, said: “As a council we’re committed to taking as much pressure away from care leavers and ensuring they have independent and healthy lives.

“We take our role as Corporate parents seriously which is why we have put in place a wide package of support to help care leavers live a healthy and independent life – this includes not having to worry about becoming homeless.”

This latest measure is part of Oldham’s Care Leavers offer, which includes free prescription charges – a national first in the UK – as well as council tax exemption, discounted leisure passes and much more for those up to the age of 25.

Sam Coupe is part of the local Children in Care Council that helped develop the support package.

The 23-year-old said: “This extra support means a lot to care leavers. It’s good that the council is listening to us and taking our ideas on board.

‘When you leave care, it’s very daunting as you don’t have or earn much money. You have to live on a tight budget, so every little helps.”

In addition, the council says it is helping to get homeless people off the borough's streets by supporting campaigns like Real Change Oldham and A Bed Every Night.

The full package of support for care leavers can be found at www.oldham.gov.uk/careleavers or visit www.oldhamccg.nhs.uk/careleaversprescriptions if you are a care leaver who needs to apply for free prescriptions.