Homeless Teenager

lula23

Hello, not sure if this is the right place to post this:

My sons sixteen year old friend is sleeping on our sofa, while im quite happy to offer him a safe place to stay im looking to the future for him.

His mother told him to leave 2 months ago , i have spoken to her and she doesnt want him in the house and she feels his can care for him self :mad: .
Since then he spends a couple of days when anyone who will take him in then moves on to the next.He has been with us for a week now.

Does anyone know if he can claim housing benefit , and maybe find a place of his own. He works part-time (around 20 hrs a week) and seems a lovely young man.

Any advice would be great !

Thank you x

Conor_3

He can claim HB but the hard part is getting enough money for the months rent and bond that most landlord want. If you've a spare room, you could rent it out to him on a proper basis. You can earn just short of £5k tax free under the rent a room scheme and he can claim HB for this depending on his income and the level of rent.

dmg24

There is helpful information here about young people and housing benefits.

HB has now changed to Local Housing Allowance, so the way that the amount is decided is different (you are allocated a certain amount according to your age and whether you are a couple/ family). If you look at this website, you should be able to work out how much he will be entitled to.

In the circumstances you have described, he should be eligible for the guaranteed bond scheme that your local authority will offer x

lula23

Thank you both for your replies x

bestpud

Contact the council about housing as they will help due to his age.

Also check if there is a foyer in your area as they are a good stepping stone to independent living if he can get in one.

http://www.foyer.net/mpn/

scooby1001

Get him to go to local council stating that he is homeless. They have a duty to house house him as he is under 18. He would need a letter from parents(two letters of they are seperated)stating that they are unable or unwilling to have him living with them. Councils are notioriusly harsh when dealing with homeless people and he shouldnt be put off because they have to help him. In my area the council house them through a special organision that deals with homeless youngesters between 16-21. My son is housed through them and council try to get parents to have them back.. If his mum/dad has got good reasons for not having him it should be easier. The sooner he gets down the council the sooner he can get settled. Im not sure what happens if he works part time. I know that if he is at college(not higher education) he can claim IS and housing benefit and EMA. My son is at college and gets the above benefits.

LadyMorticia

scooby1001 wrote: »

Get him to go to local council stating that he is homeless. They have a duty to house house him as he is under 18. He would need a letter from parents(two letters of they are seperated)stating that they are unable or unwilling to have him living with them. Councils are notioriusly harsh when dealing with homeless people and he shouldnt be put off because they have to help him. In my area the council house them through a special organision that deals with homeless youngesters between 16-21. My son is housed through them and council try to get parents to have them back.. If his mum/dad has got good reasons for not having him it should be easier. The sooner he gets down the council the sooner he can get settled. Im not sure what happens if he works part time. I know that if he is at college(not higher education) he can claim IS and housing benefit and EMA. My son is at college and gets the above benefits.

That's similar to what happened to me. I was in foster care and almost soon after my 18th birthday my foster parents didn't want to know so I became homeless but it was forewarned homelessness, so I had a date where I would be leaving but was still classed as homeless. I was in a B'n'B for 14 weeks until I managed to get a flat with Stonham who house young people and as a sort of stepping stone to independent living, They helped me with things like housing benefit etc. I was there for a year or so and then my worker thought I was thriving so much that I was ready to live independently on my own, so we filled in the forms for the housing register, and within three months I had got a place.

xx

alison999

lula23 wrote: »

Hello, not sure if this is the right place to post this:

My sons sixteen year old friend is sleeping on our sofa, while im quite happy to offer him a safe place to stay im looking to the future for him.

His mother told him to leave 2 months ago , i have spoken to her and she doesnt want him in the house and she feels his can care for him self :mad: .
Since then he spends a couple of days when anyone who will take him in then moves on to the next.He has been with us for a week now.

Does anyone know if he can claim housing benefit , and maybe find a place of his own. He works part-time (around 20 hrs a week) and seems a lovely young man.

Any advice would be great !

Thank you x

poor guy, i could never do that to my kids.

zoelouise88

hi if he goes to the local council they have to house him as long as he can prove he has been kicked out and has no where else to stay. i was kicked out at 16 and they placed me in a b&b which was paid for as i was unemployed, depending on how much he earns he may have to pay some towards that.

lula23

Thank you all so much for your replies!

Yes it is a shame that he is unwanted, if i had the space i would def keep him.

I will have a chat with him after ive checked out the advice ive been given.
Thank you againx