Kids leaving out of home care are being forced into homelessness within four years of leaving foster care, many are self harming, and others are using drugs, a new report has found.
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The report by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute found that a continued model of support, until out of home care kids turned 25, was preferred.
It found that a plan for leaving care, to become independent, should start at the age of 15, and greater support should arise from the "corporate parent", being the state, which in Tasmania is Child Safety Services.
"Care leavers are expected to achieve independence at a life and development stage far earlier than their non-care peers. This situation is exacerbated by poor leaving care planning processes, which leave young people emotionally and practically unprepared to live independent," the report said.
"Combined with early life experiences which led to being placed in care and entrenched patterns of housing instability and mobility, it is not surprising that the majority of young people in this study ... were uncertain about their future and felt alone in the world, with little support from their corporate parent."
The report found that 54 per cent of out of home care leavers in the study had experienced homelessness, 22 and 20 per cent had emergency presentations for mental health and self harm, with 11 per cent and 8 per cent admitted to hospital.
Up to 30 per cent had received a community or custodial youth justice sentence.
Tenants Union of Tasmania principal lawyer Ben Bartl said there were no affordable private rental properties for anyone in sole receipt of youth allowance.
"At risk youth need wrap around services, including housing...if we provide assistance now, we are saving money in the long run, not just in criminal justice but also through our health systems, and our young people are less at risk of developing mental health issues, or engaging in self harm."
Report author Associate Professor Robyn Martin said the state was legally and morally responsible for kids' wellbeing, and this included transitional arrangements from care.
"There should be no exit into homelessness or inappropriate housing. It is essential that care leavers are closely involved in the development and implementation of the plan. They are the experts of their lives and know what they need."
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