As a Council we have a responsibility to look after children and young people who come into our care. This responsibility does not stop when these young people leave care it continues through until they turn 25.

Currently if a care leaver presents as homeless to this council they can still be deemed intentionally homeless. We know our young people often face extensive challenges for a variety of reasons and sometimes need extra support to assist them to transition to adulthood.

These are Our Young people and we have a duty to support them as their corporate parents. This involves supporting them through their mistakes and providing guidance to help them make more positive choices in the future. This task is made more difficult if the young person is deemed intentionally homeless as this can lead to them losing touch with services.

In Manchester we are developing the homelessness pathway for all young people across the city. This is designed to support young people and prevent homelessness in the first place. We are however aware that sometimes people slip through the net.

This Council will

1)    Ensure effective and appropriate support is available through personal advisors to our young people and that this support is effectively communicated to the young people

2)    Take a clear stance and change policy to ensure that no care leavers are classed as intentionally homeless, and are always supported back into accommodation.

Proposed by Councillor S Judge, Seconded by Councillor Taylor, and also signed by Councillors Midgley, Sheikh, Richards and Bridges

Motion proposed and seconded:

As a Council we have a responsibility to look after children and young people who come into our care. This responsibility does not stop when these young people leave care it continues through until they turn 25.

Currently if a care leaver presents as homeless to this council they can still be deemed intentionally homeless. We know our young people often face extensive challenges for a variety of reasons and sometimes need extra support to assist them to transition to adulthood.

These are Our Young people and we have a duty to support them as their corporate parents. This involves supporting them through their mistakes and providing guidance to help them make more positive choices in the future. This task is made more difficult if the young person is deemed intentionally homeless as this can lead to them losing touch with services.

In Manchester we are developing the homelessness pathway for all young people across the city. This is designed to support young people and prevent homelessness in the first place. We are however aware that sometimes people slip through the net.

This Council will

1)    Ensure effective and appropriate support is available through personal advisors to our young people and that this support is effectively communicated to the young people

2)    Take a clear stance and change policy to ensure that no care leavers are classed as intentionally homeless, and are always supported back into accommodation.

Resolution

The motion was put to Council and voted on and the Lord Mayor declared that is was carried unanimously.

Decision

As a Council we have a responsibility to look after children and young people who come into our care. This responsibility does not stop when these young people leave care it continues through until they turn 25.

Currently if a care leaver presents as homeless to this council they can still be deemed intentionally homeless. We know our young people often face extensive challenges for a variety of reasons and sometimes need extra support to assist them to transition to adulthood.

These are Our Young people and we have a duty to support them as their corporate parents. This involves supporting them through their mistakes and providing guidance to help them make more positive choices in the future. This task is made more difficult if the young person is deemed intentionally homeless as this can lead to them losing touch with services.

In Manchester we are developing the homelessness pathway for all young people across the city. This is designed to support young people and prevent homelessness in the first place. We are however aware that sometimes people slip through the net.

This Council will

1)    Ensure effective and appropriate support is available through personal advisors to our young people and that this support is effectively communicated to the young people

2)    Make a clear stance and change policy to ensure that no care leavers are classed as intentionally homeless, and are always supported back into accommodation.