Council cuts beds for homeless people leaving care

Oxfordshire County Council plans to cut the number of beds for those leaving care

A council is cutting the number of beds available for homeless young people leaving the care system.

Oxfordshire County Council has approved plans to reduce the number of beds by 20% and reduce the age limit for accessing the service from 25 to 21.

The changes were made to the contract for the Young People's Supported Accommodation Services programme, which is due to expire next month.

Councillor Sean Gaul said: "To say we've gone about this as carefully as possible... is an understatement."

The aim of the programme is to support leavers of the care system with supported accommodation, to allow them to gain life skills and either pursue further education or employment.

The total number of beds would be reduced from 203 to about 154.

In their report, officers said there were important reasons for not extending all the contracts, including "low occupancy numbers" and "low waiting lists" in certain areas.

Those aged between 21 and 25 who are currently using the service will not be made homeless, but the service will stop accepting referrals from anyone over 21.

Councillor Gaul added: "We have done, I think, as much as can be done to get this decision as correct as possible."