80% of Homeless Teens in UK Left to 'Fend for Themselves' by Authorities

Every year, four in five of young homeless Britons reportedly do not get housing and are left to fend for themselves.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Every year, four in five of young homeless Britons who ask their local authorities for help with accommodation do not get housing and are left to fend for themselves, a report said on Friday.

The report, published by London-based charity The Children's Society, reveals that across the United Kingdom, an estimated 12,000 homeless 16 and 17-year-olds ask councils for help with housing each year – but a half of them are never formally assessed at all.

Of the remaining 6,000, an estimated 2,800 are found not to be in need of help and are sent home – sometimes to face their abusive parents and unresolved family conflicts – while another 2,800 get accommodated. The rest are helped, but not resettled.

"It is a national disgrace that thousands of vulnerable teenagers, who may have escaped physical or sexual abuse at home, have gone to their council to get help in finding a safe home, only to be turned away," Matthew Reed, chief executive of The Children's Society, said as the report reads.

The report also shows that many vulnerable teenagers are being forced to "fend for themselves," as they are even rarely given access to an advocate or financial support.

The key reasons for homelessness among 16 and 17-year-olds are the need to escape domestic violence, breakdown of relationships with families, abuse or substance misuse.

The authors of the report called for UK councils to join up their services and make sure that all teenagers who ask for housing are assessed and given adequate support.

Local authorities, meanwhile, are reported to face difficulties finding financial support for homeless people due to a shortage of housing and 40-percent cuts to council budgets.