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Why do we need to intervene?

Every day in the West Midlands, young people leaving care and veterans who once served our country are slipping through the cracks. Behind closed doors, in temporary beds, or on the streets, they face housing uncertainty, mental health challenges, and support systems that are stretched too thin. These are not isolated stories. They are part of a regional picture that demands urgent attention. This page brings together the latest evidence and lays bare the scale of unmet need. 

The numbers are real. The impact is immediate. And the case for action is urgent.

The annual snapshots 

Image showing a young care leaver
Young care leavers  

There are around 520 care leavers aged between 18 and 20 in the West Midlands who were assessed as homeless in 2023-24. This is derived from the England total of 4,300 (Become, 2024) scaled by the region’s share of 18 to 20-year-olds (ONS mid-2023).


Roughly a quarter of care leavers experience a serious personal crisis each year which is about 1,300 young people in our region (Barnardo’s Neglected Minds, 2017).


46% live with a mental health condition. Of these, 65% receive no service and 9% sit on waiting lists, leaving just over 1,000 without support and nearly 140 waiting for care (Barnardo’s, 2017; regional cohort ≈ 3 430).

Image showing veterans
Veterans 

Approximately 153,000 veterans live across the West Midlands (ONS Census 2021, Table TS067).


Nationally, an estimated 3,000–4,000 veterans experience homelessness each year, including 300–400 who rough-sleep (OP FORTITUDE 2024). Applying the West Midlands’ 7–8% share of the UK veteran population equates to about 230–300 local veterans affected annually, with 25–30 likely sleeping rough on any given night.


Around 10% of veterans live with serious mental-health conditions such as PTSD or major depression which is about 15,000 people in our region (UK Parliament Defence Committee VMH0007 2024). Many still face waits of 12–18 months to access NHS trauma therapy or other intensive support.


What does this mean right now 

Image of a young care leaver today
Young care leavers

Tonight, roughly 120 young people in the West Midlands have no safe, stable place to sleep.


Every day, about 3–4 care leavers reach crisis point where they lose accommodation, trigger a safeguarding alert or face a mental-health emergency. They need action now, not tomorrow. 


Image of a veteran today
Veterans

Tonight, around 110 veterans in the West Midlands have nowhere permanent to call home.


25–30 of them will bed down rough — in doorways, cars or makeshift shelters.


Every day, about 40 veterans are living through a serious mental-health crisis, yet specialist help can still be 12–18 months away.


Ready to hear some real stories?  ​​

Real people, real stories user research (2024)

Definitions and assumptionsData and methodologyStatement on use

Definitions and assumptions

  • Geographic scope: Data applies to the 18 local councils of the West Midlands Combined Authority.  These are defined by the WMCA here. 
  • Sources: Core statistics come from publicly available publications dated 2017-2024 (Barnardo’s 2017; Become 2024; OP FORTITUDE 2024; ONS Census 2021; UK Parliament Defence Cttee 2024; Homeless Link 2022).
  • Estimates: When regional figures are not published, we scale the latest national totals by the West Midlands’ share of the relevant population (ONS mid-year estimates). This follows ONS and HM Treasury Green Book conventions.
  • Crisis: Defined as a serious life event requiring intervention—e.g. mental health emergency, housing breakdown, safeguarding incident, or criminal justice contact.

Data and methodology

Group

IndicatorAnnual TotalDaily Average (Snapshot)Source

Care Leavers

Homeless (18–20)

~520

~120

Become analysis of DfE homelessness returns (2024) scaled by WM 18-20 share

Serious crisis

~1,300

~3–4

Barnardo’s Neglected Minds audit (2017) × regional cohort

With mental health needs

~1,580

—

Barnardo’s (2017)

With no service

~1,030

—

Barnardo’s (2017)

On waiting list

~140

—

Barnardo’s (2017)

Veterans

Homeless

250-300

~110

Homeless Link & OP FORTITUDE national totals × WM veteran share

Rough sleeping

—

25-35

OP FORTITUDE national estimate × WM share

With mental health need

15,000

~41 in active crisis

ONS Census 2021; UK Parliament VMH0007 (2024)

Daily figures represent the average number of individuals affected at any given time within the year, not new cases per day. 

Statement on use

These data underpin Ignis Lodge’s service design, social value calculations and funding proposals. All figures trace to verified public sources; where direct regional numbers are unavailable, we apply transparent, proportionate scaling methods widely used across UK public sector analysis (ONS, NHS England, HM Treasury Green Book). This ensures the estimates are both credible and decision-ready for commissioners, investors and community stakeholders.