This study is the first UK-wide review of youth homelessness for a decade. Supported by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the review was conducted by the Centre for Housing Policy, University of York, in partnership with Centrepoint.

It follows significant policy developments across the UK in the last decade to address youth homelessness. The introduction of homelessness strategies has placed a new emphasis on prevention, paying explicit attention to young people. Statutory protection has also been strengthened with the extension of priority need categories (particularly 16 and 17 year olds and care leavers aged 18–20) under the homelessness legislation in England, Wales and Scotland (with Northern Ireland soon to follow).