Care leavers in Wakefield facing huge waits for homes because of social housing shortage

Local 18 and 19 year-olds who've spent their youths in care are supposed to be given priority for social housing.

But a serious shortage of affordable homes is delaying that process, forcing young adults to stay either with their foster family or in a children's home until a suitable property can be found.

A public meeting on Wednesday was told that people applying for social housing without priority are waiting up to a year for accommodation.

Cheryl Whitehouse, the head of the council's children in care service, said that the local authority was trying to purchase more properties to meet demand.

Wakefield District Housing (WDH), which was set up by the council as an arms-length organisation in 2005, owns and manages the vast majority of social housing in the district.

Speaking to the children and young people scrutiny committee, Ms Whitehouse said: "We're trying trying to acquire housing for our young adult care leavers.

"We are in talks with other organisations so we're able to offer some accommodation for our young adults as well, alongside WDH.

"What we've seen during the pandemic is as our young people get older, we haven't been able to get the housing required for these young adults because there's currently a nine to 12 month waiting list."

Asked if the problem was a "concern", Ms Whitehouse replied: "It is, although there are a number of workstreams taking place, whereby I'm confident we can get some housing stock for our care leavers."

It was also confirmed that the new properties would be affordable.

Local Democracy Reporting Service