Supported Housing

Supporting People

What is supported housing?

Supported housing provides residents with the opportunity to learn the necessary skills they need to move on in a planned way to independent living. The accommodation generally comprises shared housing with communal facilities or self-contained bedsits/flats.
 
How do young people access this service?
 
On the whole, accessing supported housing depends on the area in which the individual lives. For many young people information and guidance is accessed via their local authority housing department and agencies such as Connexions or the Youth Service.
 
City YMCA, London operate a referral system for those currently residing in the London Borough of Islington, whereby individuals first have to register with The Supporting People Referral Co-ordinators Team (referrals.co-ordinator@islington.gov.uk). Generally a young person approaches an agency such as the Youth Offending Team (YOT), Leaving & After Care, Probation and Connexions, who then make the referral on their behalf.
 
What type of support does City YMCA provide? 
 
Each young person is assigned a Support Worker who works alongside the young person to provide support in the following areas:
  • Employment and training opportunities.
  • Life Skills, such as budgeting, cleaning, rent payment issues and independent living skills.
  • Developing security and safety awareness relating to personal property and personal belongings.
  • Maximising income and rent payment through mechanisms such as Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance, Disability Living Allowance and Housing Benefit.
  • Dealing with neighbour disputes effectively.
  • Finding suitable move on accommodation through other supported housing providers, local authority, registered social landlords (housing associations) and private landlords.
  • Accessing other support services such as GPs, counselling, drugs & alcohol agencies and community mental health teams. 

     

 

Support for moving on
 
City YMCA, London have a dedicated Resettlement Worker who provides support to residents and one-to-one sessions to help young people acquire the necessary skills to move on to independent living once their stay with us comes to an end. This is a vital aspect to the support framework because it has been proven to be the single most effective way of tackling the cycle of homelessness and dependency.