Leaving care

Care leavers are more likely to become homeless than other young people. Being well prepared can reduce the risk of becoming homeless. Social services must help you, and can make it easier for you to become independent.

Get ready for leaving care

You must meet with a keyworker as part of your leaving care package. Your keyworker will assess the help you need to allow you to live independently. You should create a leaving care plan with your keyworker. This plan should set out what help and support you will need after you leave care.

Your plan should include:

your housing options;
how you will support yourself financially;
life skills, like cooking and budgeting;
your education, or training options;
your employment;
any other special support you may need.

Your keyworker should keep in touch until you are 21. Your leaving care plan should be updated if your circumstances change.

Find out your rights

Get advice if you are not happy with the help your keyworker is giving you. An adviser can check if social services is providing the support you are entitled to. Most advice services are free and confidential. The adviser won't contact anyone else about your situation unless you agree to it or you are in danger.

Work out your finances

Your housing options depend on how much money you have. Your keyworker should help you work out how much you can afford. When thinking about your finances remember:

you probably won't get housing benefit until you turn 18;
you will probably have to pay a deposit and a month's rent in advance if you rent privately;
you will have to pay for heating, electricity and phone.

Social services must support you financially if you are under 18. Social services must make sure you have enough money for rent, food and travelling expenses. You probably won't get help from the Housing Executive or be able to claim benefits until you are 18.

If you are planning to leave care when you reach age 18, try to have some savings for emergencies. If you move into somewhere you can't afford, you could run into financial problems. For example, you could be evicted if you don't pay your rent.

Find a place to live before leaving

Your keyworker should help you find somewhere suitable before you leave care. If you leave care without being prepared you could end up with no money, nowhere to stay and few housing options. Find somewhere you can stay for at least the first few months. You may be able to stay with friends or relatives when you leave care. The Housing Executive has a legal duty to give housing advice and assistance to anyone who asks in Northern Ireland.

Becoming homeless after leaving care

Care leavers are more likely to become homeless than other young people. If you are homeless or about to become homeless contact your keyworker as soon as possible. You should also contact your local Housing Executive District Office . The Housing Executive has a legal duty to give housing advice and assistance to anyone who asks in Northern Ireland. Advice is also available from Housing Rights Service or Voice of Young People In Care (VOYPIC). Use the Advice Services Directory to find agencies in your area.

An adviser can hep you:

find temporary accommodation while you look into your longer term options,
check the help you are entitled to,
liaise with your keyworker and the Housing Executive.

The help you are entitled to depends on your age and circumstances.

Under 18

Social services must help if you are under 18.

Over 18

You can get help from the Housing Executive and social services. The Housing Executive has a legal duty to give housing advice and information on preventing homelessness to anyone who asks in Northern Ireland.

The rules about the help you are entitled to and who has to provide it, depend on your age and your personal circumstances. An adviser can explain your rights and give you an idea of the help social services are likely to give you if you ask for help. Advice is also available from Housing Executive, Housing Rights Service or Voice of Young People In Care (VOYPIC).