This Evidence Brief presents key findings about young people exiting out-of-home care (OOHC) in New South Wales (NSW) from Taylor Fry’s Pathways to homelessness report. The authors also discuss implications for policy and practice. By better understanding the experiences and pathways of young people exiting OOHC, supports can be put in place earlier to improve outcomes. The analysis uses a linked dataset that includes Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) and 18 other NSW Government and Commonwealth services.

• Young people leaving OOHC face a range of challenges and can find themselves particularly vulnerable to homelessness. Between 2011 and 2016, around 1 in 6 (17%) OOHC leavers accessed homelessness services within a year of leaving care, evidence of significant housing instability for this group. Aboriginal young people and females were overrepresented. 
• Young people leaving OOHC access a wide range of other government services between their exit and accessing homelessness services. Between leaving OOHC and accessing a homelessness service around a quarter of care leavers accessed an Emergency Department and/or were a victim of crime. 
• Previous homelessness, walk-in mental health service use, and court appearances (including Youth Justice Centres and police cautions) are all predictive of increased risk of later accessing homelessness services for OOHC leavers.
• Of the 1 in 6 (16%) OOHC leavers who have already accessed homelessness services in the twelve months prior to leaving care for the final time, 91% are likely to re-present to homelessness services in the following year. 
• OOHC leavers need targeted support to reduce their homelessness risk and improve their outcomes. This analysis provides a starting point to inform this work. More unpacking of the characteristics of key at risk groups of care leavers within this dataset could help to tailor and better target appropriate evidence-based interventions.