Housing minister Yvette Cooper has unveiled a series of proposed measures designed to combat youth homelessness.

Over a third of people rendered homeless last year were under the age of 25, according to government figures, while in almost a quarter of cases, young people find themselves on the streets because their parents will no longer accommodate them.

Having tackled the worst forms of rough sleeping, addressing this new pattern is the next challenge, explained Ms Cooper in a recent speech to Centrepoint.

"Young people being forced to leave the family home has become one of the biggest causes of homelessness," she said.

"As a result, we are seeing a persistent problem of young people moving from one place to the next without ever having a proper home, which can impact severely on their life chances and put them out of reach of support services.

"This new partnership with the voluntary sector will help young people move away from the damaging cycle of homelessness through schemes like supported lodgings, giving them the stability and support they need to move back to a settled home," she explained.

YCMA England and Centrepoint will merge to create a National Youth Homelessness programme, developing a series of lodging schemes across the country, under the housing minister’s plans. Shelter and the Citizens Advice Bureau will join forces to deliver a new National Homelessness Advice Service.

Former homeless people will also be recruited to share their experiences and concerns with ministers, in order to give a first-hand perspective on what future policies might make an impact.