Young people are more likely to become homeless than any other group. Within that group, care experienced young people are at even greater risk of experiencing homelessness than their peers. We know that becoming homeless at a young age can have devastating long-term consequences and greatly increases the chances of becoming homeless again later in life. This is why it is so vital that young people who find themselves without somewhere suitable to live get proper legal advice and representation.
As Scotland’s law centre for children and young people, Clan Childlaw has a long history of helping clients with housing issues. Making sure that care experienced young people get the accommodation and support they are entitled to is a key part of our mission to protect and strengthen children’s rights and improve their lives. Thanks to new funding from the Scottish Government, we are pleased to be able to expand our work on the housing issues facing care leavers.
The Scottish Government has given us funding to reduce the number of care leavers experiencing homelessness. We will do this by:
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Providing legal advice and representation to care experienced young people with housing issues. The issues we can help with include eviction, unsuitable accommodation, and homelessness.
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Providing advice and support to anyone who is supporting a child or young person facing housing law issues.
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Delivering training on housing rights to anyone who works with children and young people. Our training will help and empower them to advocate on behalf of young people
Mary-Claire Kelly, Partner at Clan Childlaw and accredited specialist in Housing and Residential Tenancy law, said:
“We believe that everyone has the right to a decent home. Our aim at Clan Childlaw is to reduce youth homelessness by ensuring that every young person who has been in care has their rights to housing upheld. Our lawyers are experts in children’s rights, care leavers’ rights and young people’s housing rights which means we can help young people whether they are in care, leaving care or after they have left care.”
Please get in touch if you would like to speak to one of our lawyers about any aspect of housing law or care leavers rights or would like to refer a young person for assistance. You can email sclhas@clanchildlaw.org or call our help line on 08081280522.
Find out more
Read more about the project funding and the different ways we can help care leavers who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
