Concerns over number of Wrexham youngsters who become homeless after leaving care

Concerns have been raised about the number of youngsters in Wrexham who become homeless after leaving care.

It comes after it was revealed that just under a third of care leavers – a total of 35 of 119 people aged 16 to 25 have experienced some form of homelessness in the last year after exiting the care system.

It compares to a national average of 9.4 per cent for the whole of Wales.

Wrexham Council, which published the figures, said only two of the 35 people impacted actually ended up on the streets, and were without accommodation for short periods.

However, backbench politicians in the county borough have voiced their worries about the situation.

They include Plaid Cymru’s Gwenfair Jones, who represents the Gwersyllt West ward.

Speaking at a safeguarding scrutiny committee meeting held on Wednesday, she said: “I’ve got a big concern about the care leavers who have experienced homelessness during the year.

“I find that quite frightening that we’ve got people leaving care and becoming homeless on our streets.”

Council officers said it was difficult to compare against some local authority areas, which do not publish the figures.

They added that the Welsh Government’s definition of homelessness was quite broad, with ten categories ranging from people sofa surfing and living in short term accommodation, to those sleeping rough.

But Labour’s Krista Childs also expressed her concerns and questioned what the authority could do to help more people affected.

She said: “I am extremely worried about what we’re doing to help reduce the possibility of any care leaver or young person becoming homeless.

“What are we as an authority looking at to help support them, are we thinking about a semi-independent house?

“I think it could really greatly benefit our authority and help in budgetary terms.”

Officers said the council does have supported accommodation available and staff are also on hand to help youngsters who are about to leave the care system.

They added that the Welsh Government was in the process of reviewing how it records homelessness.

Susan Evans, head of children’s social care, said: “I can assure members that our leaving care team leave no stone unturned in trying to engage these young people and to get the best outcomes for them.

“Occasionally though there will be difficulties engaging some of these young people for a variety of reasons.

“We do our best to secure accommodation for them and the vast majority are in appropriate accommodation, but occasionally you will get the odd young person that refuses to engage.

“However, our services remain open to them until they’re 25.”

By Liam Randall – BBC Local Democracy Reporter (more here on the LDR scheme).