14/11/2006

Kelly unveils £164m plan to tackle youth homelessness

Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly has announced a £164 million plan, which aims to tackle homelessness among young people.

Mrs Kelly pledged to donate £74 million to support a series of schemes in 2007/2008 to provide supported lodgings for young people who cannot stay in the family home. This would involve abolishing the practice of using bed-and-breakfast accommodation for homeless 16 and 17-year-olds.

Mrs Kelly also announced that a further £90 million would be used to upgrade dozens of hostels and provide training facilities.

The Department for Communities and Local Government said that a quarter of the 94,000 new homelessness cases each year are due to parents no longer allowing young people to continue living at home.

Mrs Kelly said: "In my view, it is unacceptable for a civilised society like ours to expect homeless 16 and 17-year-olds to be on their own in bed-and-breakfast hotels.

"With more than 90,000 households still living in temporary accommodation, there is no room for complacency."

(KMcA)

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