Care leavers and young people

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. The Housing Executive has a legal duty to give housing advice and information on preventing homelessness to anyone who asks in Northern Ireland.

Advice is also available from Housing Rights Service or Voice of Young People In Care (VOYPIC).

An adviser may be able to:

find you temporary accommodation while you look into your long term options,
check the help you are entitled to.

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

Does it matter how long I was in care?

The information on this page explains the help you can get if you left care after 1 September 2005 and spent at least 13 weeks in care since the age of 14. The 13 weeks include time a charity, health and social care trust or a health authority cared for you, or if you lived in a children's home or with foster parents. The 13 weeks don't need to be consecutive.

If you left care before 1 September 2005, or you spent less than 13 weeks in care, you are still entitled to help but the rules are different. If you are in one of these situations, get advice from Voice of young people in care (VOYPIC). An adviser can check the help you are entitled to and may be able to help you find a place to live.

If you are under 16 and are thinking of leaving care, your rights are different because you are still considered to be a child. If you are having problems where you live, or are experiencing violence, abuse or bullying, you may want to leave immediately.

If you are in this situation, telephone Childline on 0800 1111. Childline advisers can help with many problems - not just housing - and are available 24 hours a day.

What are social services?

Social services usually refers to statutory agencies who are by law responsible for the care, protection, health and well being of vulnerable people, including children and young people.

Social services is often used to describe the health and social care trusts in Northern Ireland. Health and social care trusts have some responsiblity for the welfare of children and young people. This includes caring for children and young people at home, in hospitals, in residential homes and children and young people who live with foster parents.

I am under 18

Social services don't have to help all homeless people who are under 18. However, social services must look into your situation to check the help you are entitled to. You will probably be entitled to help from social services if you are under 18 and:

you have spent some time in care,
you are disabled,
social services decides that you are a "child in need".

If you are under 18 and not in one of these groups you should ask the Housing Executive for help if you are homeless. The Housing Executive has a legal duty to give housing advice and information on preventing homelessness to anyone who asks in Northern Ireland.

I've been in care

You are entitled to help from social services if:

you are under 18,
you have spent at least 3 months in care.

If you have been looked after by foster parents this counts as having been in care. Social services may provide you with accommodation or financial help until you turn 21. You may be entitled to help until your 24th birthday if you are at university or college.

I'm disabled

If you are disabled and homeless, or about to become homeless, social services should offer you help. You may also be entitled to help from the Housing Executive. The Housing Executive and social services should work together to give you the support you need. The Housing Executive has a legal duty to give housing advice and information on preventing homelessness to anyone who asks in Northern Ireland.

Social services say I'm a 'child in need'

You will be offered help from social services if you are a child in need. Social services should decide that you are a child in need if you need help to manage your health and development. You can be a "child in need" even if you have not spent any time in care.

Social services should help you if:

you don't have enough money for food,
you have nowhere to live,
you are having problems that affect your health or education,
you are living with a violent or abusive person.

I am over 18

You can get help from the Housing Executive and social services if you are over 18. The Housing Executive has a legal duty to give housing advice and information on preventing homelessness to anyone who asks in Northern Ireland. The Housing Executive and social services will examine your personal circumstances before deciding the help you are entitled to.

Social services may have to help you if:

you spent 3 months in care;
you are under 21,
you are under 24 and in full-time education.

What help can I expect from social services?

The law doesn't say exactly what help you should get from social services. The help available depends on:

your personal situation,
help available in your area,
how much it costs.

Whatever your situation, you should be given a range of services to help you with your problems.

Will social services listen to what I want?

Social services have to take your wishes into account when deciding the type of accommodation to give you. If you are over 16, social services can't force you to go home.

Social services should also consider your

gender,
religion,
ethnic origin.

However, you should be realistic about the help you may get.

How can I get help from social services?

You can ask social services for help directly. If you are homeless or about to become homeless, explain to social services how your housing problems are affecting your health or development. For example:

sleeping on the streets can damage your health,
homelessness can lead to stress and depression,
it can be difficult to find a job without a stable home,
it is difficult to study while homeless,
your medical problems may get worse.

You can also get advice from an advice agency first. An adviser may be able to tell you about help available in your area. Most advice agencies are free, and anything you say to an adviser is usually just between the two of you.