Incoherent and Indefensible? A Normative Analysis of Young People’s Position in England’s Welfare and Homelessness Systems

Abstract Young people experience different treatment compared to older adults in the English welfare and homelessness systems, encountering varying levels of protection disadvantage. This paper uses a value-pluralist perspective explore normative rationales for ethical defensibility these policy differences. Evidence from 38 key informant interviews suggests that system is shifting towards vulnerability-oriented response young people. But an inconsistent value framework within systematically disadvantages them without offering corresponding degree protection. As such, closely-connected areas social pull opposing directions. Although individual positions targeting may (to greater lesser extents) be justifiable, this disparity values creates incoherent indefensible landscape group.