Money

This makes it difficult for them to buy books for college and to eat healthily. Add to that the pressures of teenage years – a social life, keeping up with the latest fashion – and debt becomes a likely consequence of homeless life.

Many homeless people are caught in the stranglehold of housing benefits legislation. An over complex system of support, it is subject to lengthy delays, can discriminate against those that want to work and prices young people under 25 out of the housing market. Vulnerable 16–17 year olds who are not safe at home have to negotiate the most complex benefits regime for any age group. They also have to get their parents to confirm they cannot live at home. In some situations parents refuse to co-operate if they risk losing Child Benefit payments.