Mr. Gerry Hone:

I will give some numbers. Out of 2,231 young people currently receiving an aftercare service, 1,018 of them stay with foster carers beyond the age of 18. There are 235 in other accommodation, and that could be friends or relatives. Out of that cohort, 209 go home by their own choice. A total of 188 are in residential care, and these are usually young people who have additional needs. Thirty-eight are in supported lodging, which is somebody in a home providing a room. Thirty-four are in designated care-leavers’ accommodation, which we purchase from the private sector much of the time. Sometimes that is with partner agencies, and partner-funded agencies provide those. That takes us to 2,231.

The issue with homelessness and trying to be clear about those figures is difficult and fraught because post 18, when a child moves on and into the community and is not engaging with the service any more, that child is difficult to track. Knowing exactly how many become homeless in the system is very difficult. It is usually figures from homelessness services. When they turn up, they learn that the child might have been in care at some point, and that is where those figures tend to come from. Therefore, tracking that is difficult.