Accommodation

If you are an ‘eligible’ or ‘relevant’ Care Leaver, we will pay for appropriate accommodation for you until you reach the age of 18 as part of your multi-agency Pathway Plan.  As a Staying Close commitment, we will continue to support you in semi-independent accommodation until a property is available to you.

If you are aged over 18, your PA will help you to find suitable accommodation.

This might involve helping you complete applications, working with housing services, coming up with suitable housing options for you, attending housing interviews, etc.

There is a range of different accommodation options, including:

  • Staying Put
  • Supported accommodation
  • Shared Lives
  • Independent living

We want to help you find what’s right for you.

We will support you to make a Universal Credit claim, or to access local housing allowance if you are in private rented accommodation.

You will receive high-priority (Band 1) access to social housing in accordance with our housing allocation policy.

If you choose to seek private rented accommodation, the Council will support by acting as your Guarantor and pay your deposit or first months’ rent.

We will support you to remain with your foster carers under what’s called a ‘Staying Put’ arrangement if this is what you and your foster carers want.

If you fall into the Eligible, Relevant or Former Relevant category, your PA will support you to access your Setting Up Home Allowance (or Leaving Care Grant), which can be up to £3,000.  This will help you to furnish your first property and pay for things such as furniture, a cooker, crockery, insurance, etc.  Payments will be worked out according to your needs and reasonable cost.

We will support you with a Move In Pack for your first home move including cleaning and household essentials.

We will support you with moving into your first independent property including financial assistance towards removal van support for one move only, which will come from your Leaving Care Grant.

When you move into new accommodation, your PA will visit you within seven days of the move.

We will give you advice about maintaining a tenancy, including avoiding rent arrears, paying bills etc.

If you live in a First Choice Homes property, we will work in partnership with them to deliver on their Pledge:

  • Ensure You’re Known And Supported
  • Prepare You For Independence
  • Provide Extra Support When You Need It
  • Connect You To Wider Opportunities

If you are living in Greater Manchester, we will exempt you from council tax until you are 25.  If you live in another area, we will assist you to claim any council tax discounts which may be open to you as a care experienced young person, this not likely to be full exemption though.

We will ensure that no Care Leaver accessing the service will be found intentionally homeless.  We will work in partnership with the Homelessness Service to ensure you are fully supported.

Benefits

All your benefit entitlements will need to be confirmed with the Benefits Agency.