17 years old and homeless

[tigerthecat]

I have a friend who is homeless. He was in foster care until Jan of this year and since that broke down has been staying with a range of friends and acquaintences. He has been living on money from odd jobs and kindness of others. He recently got back in touuch with social services who said they had closed his file? He was temporaily housed in homeless accomadation but this was only for 28 days, this organisation says that it is social services responsibility to house him. Any suggestions as to the what he should be doing next would be really helpful. thanks.,

[curiosity]

I'm not sure on the exact conditions on when your local authority will class someone as a "looked after child" ours is someone under 18 who has been in residential or social services care for at least 3 months or 6 weeks before their 16th birthday (ever) What you need to do is ring your social services department and ask for the "looked after children department" ask to speak to someone for advice. Looked after children have more resources available to them than other young people, he may get results by accessing this service. Don't be passed from pillar to post, ring the "duty team " if need be.

[mollymandy]

Go to your local CAB or a good solicitor ( the first session is free )

Get in touch with your local councillors and speak to them about the case .

Contact the job centre for benefit advice .

ASK questions , this seems all wrong !

[dimond22]

There are out side agencys that offer support to young people in this position other than the social services such as the Youth Advise Centre who helped me in the same position at 19 years old. also i was never apart of social services however they offered me a duty socail worker at 16 in order to obtain a letter of referal to london council. My best advice is don't take no for an answer display the seriouseness of the situation drawing on as much as possible from the history of your friends case. if they beleive you can stay else where they will fob you off. turn up at social services with your bags and refuse to sleep on the street for the night claim you'll stay there if you have to, you have know where to go at all. i must say as a young adult who is known to the social services i'm suprised at the lack of support. Also look up youth hostals in your area there not great but i'm sure they'd be eligable for that. good luck to your mate.