New research by ADR Northern Ireland on care leavers and homelessness informs the NI Executive’s New Foundations Programme
Categories: Research using linked data, Research findings, Data Insights, ADR Northern Ireland, Children, young people & education, Health & wellbeing, Social mobility & inclusion
2 December 2025
New research by ADR Northern Ireland (ADR NI) has played a central role in informing the Northern Ireland Executive’s recently launched New Foundations Programme, a major cross-departmental initiative to support young people leaving care.
The research was showcased at the programme’s launch event at Parliament Buildings in Stormont, Belfast, on 1 December, where Ministers highlighted its importance in underpinning the case for action. Published as a Data Insight on the ADR UK website, the study provides the first population-level evidence demonstrating the scale and nature of homelessness among care leavers in Northern Ireland (NI).
Research background
The study used linked administrative data to examine the risk of homelessness among young people aging out of care in NI. Following a matched cohort of care leavers and young people with no social care history for up to ten years, findings show that care leavers face a substantially higher risk of homelessness. Over six in ten young people who aged out of care went on to experience homelessness, with the highest risk in the first two years after leaving.
The New Foundations Programme
The New Foundations Programme, launched by the NI Minister for Communities, Gordon Lyons, and the NI Minister of Health, Mike Nesbitt, sets out a new cross-departmental approach to supporting young people leaving care, with the ambition of embedding lasting systems change to prevent homelessness.
In his ministerial address Mike Nesbitt said: “research shows that 63% of care leavers in NI experience homelessness. These young people are identifiable in advance, and we have a profound responsibility to intervene”
Also addressing the launch event, the Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), Griania Long, said: “Incredible research shows 17-times the risk of homelessness for care leavers – this is not acceptable. It also showed the biggest risk in the first 2 years. If we crack this, we can get it right first time and target resources here.”
She also added: “This research has provided the evidence and we are grateful.”
Lead author, ADR NI’s Dr Sarah McKenna, said: “This research, delivered in partnership with the NIHE, Department of Health and care experienced young people, demonstrates the power of administrative data to provide robust evidence that informs policy change and service delivery.”
The launch event provided an opportunity to demonstrate the real-world impact of administrative data research in shaping the NI Executive’s response to the NI Programme for Government’s strategic priority of preventing homelessness.
Next steps and further information
ADR NI continues to work with partners across government, the voluntary sector, and experts by ensuring that insights from administrative data are used to improve outcomes for children and young people in contact with the children’s social care system.
