Parental responsibility
The parents of, or those with parental responsibility for, young people aged under 18 are responsible for their children's welfare. Our key commitment is to keep families together in their homes wherever possible (and where it is safe to do so) because this is best for the child. Homelessness at a young age should be avoided wherever possible.
There is a range of preventative work taking place at a local level which supports this. For most young people, staying in their family home (with support) is usually the best outcome for them and support can be accessed whilst a young person is still at home.
We will always expect to speak to the parent/carer about why the young person cannot go home and talk about whether we could offer any help (not financial) to keep the young person at home.
If at any point there are concerns for the young person's safety then you should contact the Safeguarding Hub:
Safeguarding Hub
0300 373 2723
Accommodation options
Aged 16 or 17
There are no supported accommodation options available for young people who are under 16. However, if they are 16 or 17, they can apply for supported accommodation, if they are unable to remain in the family home or within the wider family network. Remember, supported accommodation is only for young people who are homeless, have nowhere else to go and could not manage living alone without support.
There are certain processes we will need to follow to make sure your young person is getting the right support. In order to do this, we will need to complete some assessments. For a child aged 16 or 17, who is homeless, one of these assessments will be completed by a social worker.
Aged 18 to 24
The Youth Homeless and Housing Officers listed at the bottom of the page can offer advice to young people aged 18 to 24.
If they have support needs, a referral can be completed for supported accommodation within our Positive Housing Pathway.
However, if you have asked them to leave and this is imminent, it would be best for them to approach the Housing Options Homelessness Team (details below) in the first instance. Depending on the circumstances, they may be able to provide emergency accommodation but they will also look at all options for accommodation, including supported options, social housing, Choice Based Lettings (previously known as Council Housing) and privately rented options.
We also have emergency temporary accommodation within our Positive Housing Pathway, which is called Nightstop. Placements are dependent on risk assessment and availability of volunteer hosts.
Email: nightstop.wf@depaulcharity.org.uk
Tel: 0800 028 3674
Contact us
Our Youth Homeless and Housing Officers can help talk you through options and can give you advice on what to do next:
Emmie Sutherland
07825 313726
Megan Walker
07386 658909
If your young person is over 18, although you can still discuss options with a Youth Homeless and Housing Officer, it is best to speak to your local area's Housing Options Homeless Team (formerly Council Housing) if they are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness.
Barrow: 01229 876543
Eden: 01768 861499
South Lakeland: 01539 793367