Thousands of Yorkshire teens at risk of homelessness

We can reveal there's at least 7,000 young people at risk of homelessness in Yorkshire and the Humber right now.

In the last year more than 200 people aged between 16 and 24 in Leeds were assessed because they're homeless - or close to it.

The charity Centrepoint says councils here have been overwhelmed with calls from teenagers in desperate need of help.

But they're warning there's a huge funding gap and that councils need over a million more to support people who could end up on the streets.

Chief Executive Seyi Obakin says:

“Across Yorkshire thousands of young people asked their council for help with homelessness last year, with half receiving no meaningful support.

“Under the Homelessness Reduction Act councils are required to assess and support all young people coming through their doors. The Act is a big step in the right direction, but our analysis suggests the funding provided comes nowhere near what is required for councils to fulfil their new duties.

“The government has been increasingly vocal on the issue of homelessness but without extra funding for councils to meet their new obligations they are risking setting councils up to fail."

Leeds City Council say they're significantly investing in ways to prevent it