By Joe Coughlan

A South London teenager, "kicked out" by his parents, fears he will become homeless after the hostel he is currently living in is set to be bulldozed.

David Andrade, 19, has lived in a hostel run by Evolve Housing and Support in Stockwell Road, Lambeth, for the past two years, after leaving the family home aged 17.

However, the teen was dealt a blow after "being told in a letter" last year that residents would "have to leave the building for it to be knocked down". At first, Mr Andrade said he was told he would be supported into new accommodation, but he now claims this offer has been changed.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "I found out a year ago, I got told in a letter. Originally the plan was they were going to help us and house us anywhere they could support us, instead of being on the streets. But then they completely turned around and we've been told to look for private renting."

Mr Andrade said he was originally told to move out on March 15, but has since been offered more time to find another option. The teenager said he was also offered flat viewings but feels the help "doesn't really make a difference".

He said: "They gave me a two-week extension, which even now I still haven't found anything, I had a viewing on Monday which, I'll be honest with you, it just felt like a little ruse to try and seem like they're helping us."

A Lambeth Council spokesperson told the LDRS that it had reviewed its housing provision last year for young people and care leavers who were formerly homeless, to help move people into independent accommodation and prevent homelessness.

They added: "We have announced our decision to decommission the two large hostels we currently use – including Evolve. We are instead commissioning some 200 new units of small, specialist housing-related support provision that will better meet the needs of our young people."

Mr Andrade said it's been a "big struggle" to find a place to live given his age and added: "It's just stressful for us because like I said from getting kicked out today, I've got no idea where I'm going. I'm just packing. I don't know where I'm gonna take my stuff. It just feels a bit mad… What they're doing is not right, they are making people homeless again."

The teenager said he was initially placed at the hostel by his social worker after being kicked out of his family home, and is now hoping to move his things back into the house while he finds somewhere else.

He said: "My parents thought I was doing stuff that I wasn't, drug dealing and stuff like that, which I wasn't, but they kicked me out for that and I wasn't willing to go back if I was getting accused for those types of things… I wouldn't really want to go home, that's where I got kicked out in the first place. My mum and I aren't on the best terms."

The teenager said he has been annoyed by his interactions with staff at Evolve while moving out and claims they "haven't been supportive". He continued: "Like today, I literally got into two arguments with two different people. One of them just got rude to my face saying, 'Why haven't you gone to your viewings?' That wasn't the case. I went there, he wasn't there to tell me if I did or didn't go. So that obviously just annoyed me."

An Evolve Housing and Support spokesperson told the LDRS: "We strive to provide the best possible support to every young person staying with us, and offer a range of tailored assistance depending on need. With regards to Mr Andrade, we would need to look into things before commenting, but we would always encourage anybody who is unhappy with our service to contact us. We can confirm that he has been offered alternative accommodation and is being supported by Lambeth Council. We are sorry that David feels he has not received the best service, and we will reach out to him to get his feedback."

Speaking about the hostel site they said: "Our Stockwell service is closing as Lambeth Council has re-designed the housing pathway for Young People who are homeless in the borough. This means that whilst some services are closing, Lambeth Council are commissioning new services, so that the needs of young people are still met."

They added: "We have worked with our customers to find suitable move-on accommodation for everyone over the last year, and every young person has been offered a housing option and support by Lambeth. We are continuing to do everything we can to make each person's transition as smooth as possible."

A Lambeth Council spokesperson told the LDRS: "We do everything we can to help our young people and care leavers find the most suitable accommodation available, in the face of the severe shortage of affordable housing."

The spokesperson said every young person leaving the hostel on Stockwell Road has been offered accommodation, with some being given a number of alternative options.

They added: "Where residents have declined the offer of accommodation , we have written to each informing them that the council will continue to support them following their moves from the service, and that anyone who sources their own properties, with support from their support worker, can access £2,000 to help towards their first months' rent and deposit."