Leaving Home

This text combines a broad history of leaving home with an analysis of the relevant theory and up-to-date research in the area. It examines the processes of household formation in youth and considers patterns of leaving home in historical context. These patterns are shown to increasingly involve returns to the parental home. Access to state and family support is investigated and the implications of recent reductions in state support are discussed. "Leaving Home" develops a framework for understanding transitions to adulthood which steers a course between commentators who suggest that young people are responsible for their own homelessness or joblessness, and those who argue that such problems are purely structural. The book argues that this polarization leads to unhelpful stereotypes which need to be "unpacked" if we are to understand the social problems affecting young people and help them to make a successful transition to adulthood. This text should be of interest to students of sociology, social policy and social work.