“Homelessness to forever home”: Shared Lives highlighted as an option for homeless young care experienced people

The guidance states:

“Shared Lives is a family-based accommodation and support model that provides care experienced young people with a stable home, trusted relationships, and practical support as they transition into adulthood. Rather than being centred on a property or tenancy, the model is built around carefully matched relationships between young people and trained Shared Lives carers, helping to reduce the ‘cliff edge’ many care leavers experience when they leave care.

Shared Lives schemes operate across 137 local authorities and the model is increasingly being used as a Staying Close pathway, particularly for young people leaving foster care, residential care, and supported accommodation.

The model has proven especially beneficial for young people with autism, learning disabilities, neurodiversity, complex trauma, and mental health needs, including those who may not meet adult social care thresholds but still require ongoing support.

Shared Lives has a strong focus on enduring relationships as a primary intervention. Young people receive personalised support with independent living skills, financial literacy, emotional wellbeing, education, employment and training, and community participation. The model promotes gradual transitions, strengthens family and community connections, and provides early intervention before difficulties escalate into homelessness.

Shared Lives supports nearly 1,500 18–25-year-olds nationally. In the last two years, over 180 new care leavers have been supported across 40 schemes. Reported outcomes include improved wellbeing, stronger trusting relationships, high participation in education, employment and training, and very high rates of housing stability.

Key advice for local authorities includes to start planning early, aligning housing, children’s services and adult social care, investing in specialist Shared Lives carers, co-producing services with young people, and creating flexible pathways that extend beyond age-based service boundaries.”

Read more of Gracie’s story – from homelessness to forever home:

“Gracie faced homelessness at 17. Her social worker supported her into her Shared Lives arrangement and Gracie tells us that from there her life changed forever. Gracie is autistic and has mental health needs…..Within Shared Lives Gracie has a package of support, she lives with Shared Lives carers and has day support too, Gracie says these relationships are what has made the difference, “Shared Lives is my founded family”. Gracie works as an Ambassador with Shared Lives Plus and tells us that through the care in Shared Lives and employment opportunities her confidence has grown and she has achieved things she would have never thought possible, “Shared Lives has given me a second chance at life. I never thought I’d have people to call my family, a safe and happy home and a job that I love”.

For more information about Shared Lives for young people, please contact our team consultancy@sharedlivesplus.org.uk