Vulnerable young people are being targeted with adverts online that offer a free place to stay in exchange for sex, according to a report which focuses on London and the southeast.
It is not illegal for people to put up these notices, which have been found on sites such as Craigslist. But charities told the BBC these adverts are exploitative. Furthermore, Hove MP Peter Kyle has called for them to be outlawed.
It comes after a CentrePoint survey of 403 people which found 25% of young homeless people said they had stayed with a stranger. A further 14% of the rest said they had considered doing so. The charity warned that this issue was widespread.
Share your experiences
We want to hear from our readers and charities. Have you heard of this happening to any of the young people you work with? Have you experienced this first-hand? Have you stayed with a stranger when you had nowhere else to go? What should be done to protect vulnerable young people? Share your stories and views.
