Accommodation support for kinship carers

How we support kindship carers with accommodation

Kinship carers may need support with accommodation, as their homes may not have enough space to take on the care of a child or possibly a sibling group of children.

Living in cramped conditions may add to the pressures of caring for a child. The Local Offer aims to encourage housing authorities and registered social landlords to ensure their policies recognise the importance of the role performed by kinship carers, and whenever possible ensure they are given appropriate priority to move to more suitable accommodation if this will prevent the need for a child to become cared for by the council.

We also have the power, under Section 17 of the 1989 Children Act, to give financial support towards accommodation costs where it is assessed to be the most appropriate way to safeguard and promote a child’s welfare.