Ending the Care Cliff: Standing With Young People as They Turn 18
Imagine being 18 years old again- finishing exams, planning a gap year, maybe still relying on parents to help with laundry, life admin, or even your first rent deposit.
When care-experienced young people turn 18, they face a double burden — the demands of instant independence and the harsh reality of doing it without a family beside them. The impact is clear in the outcomes: a third become homeless within two years and care-experienced young people are four times more likely to struggle with their mental health.
The Isolation Factor
Beyond the financial shock, many care-experienced young people live in profound isolation. Even though young people in Hertfordshire do receive support from services like Herts Young Homeless and Hertfordshire Care Leaving Service, this cannot replace the steady, unconditional presence of a loving family. Professionals offer guidance, encouragement and practical help, but it isn’t the same as having someone who is there for you no matter what.
Many care-experienced young people are moved to wherever housing becomes available, sometimes far from people they know. Suddenly they must find their way around new towns, new services and new GP surgeries, all while trying to cope with this separation from familiar support.
This isolation fuels a growing mental health crisis.
“There’s great support for care leavers in Hertfordshire. The biggest challenge is making sure young people know what’s out there and that the wider services aren’t already stretched to breaking point.”
hyh worker
How Herts Young Homeless Bridges the Gap
This is where Herts Young Homeless steps in. We don’t just offer advice; we offer consistency, connection, and someone to walk alongside each young person as they move toward independence.
When we first met Damien, he was 17, homeless, anxious, and struggling to trust anyone. As a young person on the autism spectrum who had moved in and out of care, he found it hard to trust support workers.
Over six months, his support worker stood beside him, step by step:
- Securing benefits
- Renegotiating repayments that were swallowing
- 40% of his income
- Tackling priority debts to protect his tenancy
- Making calls on his behalf until he gained the confidence to make them himself
- Building budgeting skills and tracking income and expenses
Progress was slow, steady, and entirely at Damien’s pace, which was crucial for a neurodiverse young person who could easily become overwhelmed.
At just 18, Damien had been handed the responsibilities of running a home alone. Today, thanks to his determination and consistent support, he is debt-free, safe, studying accounting at college, in a stable relationship, and confidently managing his own home.
Why We Need You
Damien’s journey demonstrates that:
Young people don’t become homeless because they lack resilience. They become homeless because they lack support.
With living costs rising and mental health services stretched, our Outreach and Intensive Outreach services are more essential than ever.
Support Herts Young Homeless today. Whether you’re a business seeking local impact or a community fundraiser, your contribution ensures that for care-experienced young people in Hertfordshire, turning 18 is just the beginning, not a cliff edge.