A 21-year-old man who grew up in the Wirral care system has been homeless since March after his private tenancy was abruptly terminated. Leon Finley states he has struggled to secure adequate support, highlighting a situation that reflects broader concerns previously raised by Ofsted about housing for care leavers in the borough.
Key Takeaways
- Leon Finley, 21, became homeless in March after his private landlord ended his tenancy.
- He claims Wirral Council's homelessness service initially told him he was not a priority case.
- An Ofsted report in 2024 previously identified a lack of accommodation choice for care leavers in Wirral.
- Wirral Council states it gives care leavers the highest priority for social housing and provides ongoing support.
Sudden Eviction Leads to Homelessness
Leon Finley, who spent approximately five years in the care system until he turned 18, found himself without a home in March of this year. His housing situation became unstable after his private landlord cancelled his tenancy agreement.
According to Leon, the eviction was based on a noise complaint, but he claims he was not present at the property at the time of the alleged incident. He reports that he was required to leave the property the following day.
Initially, he was able to stay on a friend’s couch, but a change in their circumstances meant this was no longer a viable option. Since then, he has relied on borrowing money from friends to find temporary shelter while also volunteering for a local homeless charity, Step to Shelter.
Navigating the Support System
Leon describes a challenging experience while seeking help. He claims that despite his status as a care leaver and disclosing mental health diagnoses and suicidal thoughts, he was told by Wirral Council’s homelessness service that he was not considered a top priority for housing.
He alleges that at one point, he was told by a representative of the local authority to, “Stop calling the line, we can’t do anything for you.” This experience left him feeling passed between different services.
“I have been left to fend for myself. They have left me to rough sleep with a welfare check that never came.”
Leon described the process as feeling like “a game of pass the parcel” after being referred to a charity that was unable to assist him. However, he did acknowledge that his personal advisor, a council employee assigned to support care leavers, has been making efforts to help him secure accommodation.
Ofsted Findings on Care Leaver Accommodation
An Ofsted inspection of Wirral’s children’s services, with findings published in 2024, highlighted a lack of suitable accommodation choices for young people leaving the care system as a significant issue. A subsequent focused inspection later that year noted that the council had made progress in several areas and had taken action to address the concerns.
Currently, Leon is being considered for two properties in Wirral, but he remains anxious about the outcome. “I am worried that if things fall through again, I am in danger of losing hope,” he said. “I didn’t think I would be left like this when things did fall apart.”
A Call for Greater Awareness
Leon’s personal experience has motivated him to speak out about the wider issue of homelessness. Through his volunteer work with Step to Shelter, he has gained a new perspective on the scale of the problem in the region.
He described the situation in Liverpool city centre as “an epidemic,” adding, “You know how big the town centre is and on almost every street and alleyway you walk down, you find homeless people. It’s really bad.”
Despite his own struggles and a previous jail sentence for a fight, Leon says he is focused on rebuilding his life. “All I have tried to do is pick myself back up,” he explained. “I have now got to a point where I am picking myself back up but the lack of support around the homelessness was quite shocking.”
Wirral Council's Position and Reported Progress
On September 22, Wirral Council presented an annual report to its education committee detailing progress in its children’s social care services. The report indicated positive developments for care leavers.
Key Statistics for Wirral Care Leavers
- The number of children in care has been reduced.
- An increasing number of care leavers are now living independently in social housing.
- Currently, 26 care leavers are in higher education, a record number for the borough.
- Hundreds of young people have received emotional support services.
In response to the specific case, a spokesperson for Wirral Council provided a statement emphasizing their commitment to supporting young people leaving care.
The spokesperson said: “The council takes its role as the corporate parent extremely seriously and is absolutely committed to doing everything it can to support looked after young people into adulthood, in some cases until the age of 25.”
They added, “As part of this commitment, care leavers are supported to access suitable accommodation, which includes being given the highest priority status for social housing. Care leavers have an individually tailored pathway plan designed to help them achieve their goals and aspirations and are allocated their own personal advisor, who they meet with regularly for advice and support along the way.”
Due to confidentiality policies, the council could not discuss the specifics of Leon's case but confirmed he “continues to be supported on his pathway plan by his personal advisor.”