I’ve been kicked out

Sometimes you have no choice but to leave where you’re living because you’ve been kicked out. Being in this situation can be highly stressful and worrying, particularly if you’re unsure of where to go. If you have the opportunity and it feels safe, try to gather important and useful things like warm clothing, money, important personal belongings, food, medications, phone chargers and any IDs or your passport before you go. Once you’re out of the house, the first thing you should do is get yourself somewhere safe so you can start thinking about your options.

If you’re under 16, your parents have a responsibility to ensure that you have somewhere safe to stay. If they’ve kicked you out and you feel you can’t return, social services will have to help you find somewhere safe to live or stay. If you already have a social worker, it may be best to try and contact them directly so you can explain the situation. If you don’t have a social worker, or you’ve been unable to get in touch with them, there should be an out of hour’s emergency number on your local authority website so you can contact so you can speak with someone about your situation.

Once you’re over 16 your parents can ask you to leave, and if things have got to a point where they’ve thrown you out it’s important to seek help and support. If you’re under 18, social services still have a responsibility to help you as you’re still legally considered a child. You should try to contact them to see what they can do, and if you already have a social worker it may best to try and speak with them first. If you’re over 18, you can speak with your local council housing department about the different ways they may be able to help. It’s likely that they will do an assessment of your situation to work out your options. If you’re deemed eligible for support they may have a responsibility to help you find housing, or may support you to get somewhere to stay. Each situation is different so the types of help do vary.

If you’re unsure about what to do or need someone to speak to, Runaway Helpline are here to talk, for free on 116000. You can call or text and we will listen and not judge. We want to help you be as safe as possible and can support you in your situation.