Staff from the National Confidential Forum (NCF) will attend this weekend’s #Worldsbigsleepout in Edinburgh to highlight homelessness among care-experienced people.

Statistics on statutory homelessness show that six per cent of local authority homelessness applications in Scotland between 2017-18 were from people who have been looked after by a local authority at some point.

This figure is believed to be far higher as it relies on care-experienced people self-declaring and does not include hidden homelessness numbers sleeping rough or staying in unsuitable accommodation.

Jayne Laidlaw (pictured), head of the NCF, said: “We know that care-experienced people are significantly more likely to experience homelessness at some stage in their lives.

“We are determined to stop this and will be attending Saturday’s Big Sleep Out in Edinburgh to highlight the problem.”

She added: “We particularly want to hear from care-experienced people who have been homeless at some stage in their lives. Their confidentiality will be protected.”
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Jane Bruce, CEO Scotland, Social Bite, said: “It is a sad reality that there is a strong connection between people who have experienced care and people becoming homeless. The forum provides a safe channel for people’s voices to be heard.”

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