Nowhere to live ??

Nowhere to live?
16 or 17 year old?
If you have answered “yes” to both questions then there are some options to get help.

The Council could accept a 16 and 17 year old homeless person as “vulnerable” provided that they have nowhere else to live.

If you have contacted Milton Keynes Council for help and have been told that there is nothing they can do to help, you should contact YiS or Shelter for advice.

One way for a 16 and 17 year old getting help with housing, is to be deemed to be “estranged” from your parents.
Being "estranged" means that you have been 'kicked out' or asked to leave your home. The Council will ask you for ID and possibly a letter from your parent(s) explaining why you can't live there and when you have to leave.

To get help from the Council, you need to contact the "Housing Options" department on MK 691691 or meet with a housing officer at the Civic Offices near the Library in Central Milton Keynes.

After the first interview with the Housing Officer, there will be an interview where the support needs of the young person will be assessed. At the same time the family and the young person will referred to the "Link Up" programme to see if the problems can be sorted with mediation or other help. If, in the end, it turns out that the problems cannot be sorted out, the young person will be deemed to be "estranged" from the parents or family.

Councils in other areas in England might have different arrangements, but you could still be entitled to accommodation along the same lines.

If you have walked out of your home (and there could be good reasons for that) and your parent(s) will not write this letter, then it might be more difficult for you to prove, that it is not good for your wellbeing, to continue living with your parent(s).
It is not impossible to get accommodation without this letter but you might need some help from Shelter in this instance.

You will not automatically be given your own place to live but could be offered a place staying for a short time in a hostel while your needs get assessed.

You should think carefully before turning down such an offer because the Council might think that you are not homeless and will withdraw the offer of help altogether. Ask Shelter for help if this happens to you.

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