Homeless children
You shouldn't have to be sleeping on the street or 'sofa surfing'. If you're 16 -17 years old, Staffordshire's Children's Services and Housing Departments want to help you.
They will not leave you on the street.
Help from your local housing department
- Housing will look to see if you can go back to a family member.
- If you go to Housing, they will make a referral to Childrens Services because by law you are still a child.
- If it is an emergency Housing will look for emergency accommodation for you.
- Housing will look at all options for you, but this may be temporary and out of the area you are from.
Help from children's services
- Childrens Services will try and help you stay with your family.
- If you are homeless that night, they will find somewhere temporary for you to stay whilst they carry out assessments and speak to your family.
- This assessment will tell them whether they view you as a ‘child in need’ or they think you should become a Child in Care who is cared for by Staffordshire County Council.
Both the Housing Departments and Children’s Services will try and arrange a joint interview and will listen to you and take into account your wishes and feelings.
What kind of accommodation could you get?
- Accommodation offered by Housing is likely to be temporary.
- Children’s Services could find you accommodation which could be:
- A placement with a host family
- A hostel such as the YMCA
- Independent accommodation with support
- Shared accommodation with support
Please note: You may not get exactly what you want.
Ongoing support
If you accept accommodation from Childrens Services, you are likely to have:
- Support from your accommodation provider to help you prepare for independence
- An income from benefits or a weekly allowance
- A social worker
If you become a child in care for 13 weeks or more you may get a personal advisor to guide you until the age of 25.
Approaching your 18th birthday
In the run up to your 18th birthday the Social worker will help you decide your plans as you may not be able to stay in your accommodation long past 18, unless you are in a supported housing/hostel and they allow this.
This could be:
- Returning to your family
- Social housing
- Private rented housing
- Supported housing
Helpful websites
The below websites may be helpful:
Get in touch
Children's services
Staffordshire Children’s Services
Tel: 0800 1313 126
Out of hours emergencies: 0845 604 2886
Housing
Cannock Chase District Council
Civic Centre, PO Box 28, Beecroft Road, Cannock, WS11 1BG
Tel: 01543 462621
East Staffordshire Borough Council
Customer Service Centre, Market Place, Burton Upon Trent, DE14 1HA
Tel: 01283 508120
Out of hours emergencies: 01283 508126
Lichfield District Council
District Council House, Frog Lane, Lichfield, WS13 6YX
Tel: 01543 308709/01543 308703
Out of hours emergencies: 01543 308000
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council
61-63 Lower Street, Newcastle under Lyme , Staffordshire, ST5 2RS
Tel: 0345 850 9698
Out of hours emergencies: 01782 615599
South Staffordshire District Council
Council Offices, Wolverhampton Road, Codsall, Wolverhampton, WV8 1PX
Tel: 01902 696504
Stafford Borough Council
Civic Centre, Riverside, Stafford, ST16 3AQ
Tel: 01785 619000
Out of hours emergencies: 01785 619170
Staffordshire Moorlands District Council
Moorlands House, Stockwell Street, Leek, Staffordshire, ST13 6HQ
Tel: 0345 605 3012
Email: housing.team@staffsmoorlands.gov.uk
Tamworth Borough Council
Marmion House, Lichfield Street, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B79 7BZ
Tel: 01827 709709
Downloadable leaflet/information
Downloadable versions of the above information are available to download: