The intersection of leaving out-of-home care and the risk of homelessness: a scoping review

Abstract

<p>Young people who have been placed with foster parents or in residential care during upbringing are disproportionately represented among young people experiencing homelessness. This international trend has prompted growing attention within social policy and research on the intersection of leaving care and homelessness. This scoping review analyses research published between 2000 and 2024, examining the scope of existing studies, methodologies, definitions, and geographical contexts. Guided by Arksey and O’Malley’s five-stage framework, five databases were searched, retrieving 3,983 peer-reviewed articles and publications. After removing duplicates, 2,155 records remained, of which 117 met the inclusion criteria. The findings indicate an increasing focus on the intersection between leaving care and homelessness, with much of the research originating from North America. Quantitative methods dominate the field, and homelessness is most often narrowly defined as rough sleeping, excluding broader definitions such as couch-surfing with friends or family. While awareness of this issue is growing, the review highlights significant variations in definitions and research approaches across geographical contexts. These differences can significantly influence how the challenges of leaving care and the risk of homelessness are understood and addressed in social policy and practice.<br></p>