Marissa Ryan: Society owes a duty of care to those leaving State care

Children in the care of the State are the children of all of us. The Government must ensure they are valued, respected, and supported to live securely when they leave State care, writes Marissa Ryan of EPIC (Empowering People in Care)

The precarious housing situation of young people  leaving State care is in some cases driven by narrow eligibility criteria for State supports upon leaving care. File picture

When we speak about the housing crisis, it is easy to lose sight of the profound human tragedy of homelessness, and fear of homelessness. 

We think of economics, policy solutions, regulations, politics, international practice. Yet this discourse often masks the panic, confusion, and degradation experienced by people who lack a stable home.