Accomodation Questions and Answers

• What is supported lodgings?
• How is it different from supported tenancy?
• So what’s a Training Tenancy then?
• So what are my other options?
• What’s the difference between a B&B and a hostel?
• Where can I go if I have to be out of the B&B through the day and I’m not at college or work?
• How long will I get support for housing from Children & Young People Service?
• Can I get a leaving care grant again if I have to move against my will?
• Who pays for educational materials (books, equipment, etc) after I’m 16?
  

Q. What is supported lodgings?

A: The supportive lodgings scheme was developed to meet the needs of young people sixteen and over who are not yet ready to live independently.

Supported lodgings are a bit like living in foster care. You live with a family in their home but because you are older you have more independence. There are not many supported lodgings available in Kirklees but sometimes the foster carers you already live with become supported lodgings.

Placements (into supported lodgings), are offered mostly to young people who have a history of care, but sometimes placements have been made from the children in need team when a young person is seen as very vulnerable.

Families are checked and approved before they can provide board lodgings to young people.

The placements are closely checked and they are not time limited. Young people are supported and helped to move on when they are ready to do so.

Q: How is that different from supported tenancy?

A: Supported lodgings are just for young people over the age of 16 who are leaving care. A supported tenancy is for other people who are not looked after young people. You will be assessed and awarded points on a points system, but as a young person leaving care you will be given the highest priority.

Q: So what’s a Training Tenancy then?

A: If you have a training tenancy, you have your own place but Kirklees is the tenant not the young person. The Leaving Care Team are responsible for paying the bills. You will have monthly meetings with the Family Placement Officer to see how things are going, this is a bit like having a practice go at running your own home before you get your own tenancy.

Training tenancies help young people leaving the care system by offering the security of a tenancy held by Kirklees.

The tenancy is held by Kirklees for a minimum of six months. During this time there are regular planning meetings held to check how the young person is managing.

Any housing related issues are dealt with by the worker and the young person is given the opportunity to settle into independent living without all the responsibility at one go.

The plan is always to sign the tenancy over to the young person. However if the young person chooses not to remain in the tenancy then it is hoped that this tenancy can then be offered to another young person on the waiting list for housing

Q: So what are my other options?

A: You could have your own tenancy or you might have to go into temporary accommodation in either a bed and breakfast (B&B) or a hostel.

Q: What’s the difference between a B&B and a hostel?

A: Hostels are staffed 24 hours a day with some support for young people. You have your own room and there are shared cooking facilities. In a B&B there is no support. It is ran as a business. In some B&B’s you have to be out of the building during the daytime and there are no cooking facilities.

Q: Where can I go if I have to be out of the B&B through the day and I’m not at college or work?

A: If you are not working and not in college these are some of the places you could go to:

• Connexions drop-in
• Housing surgery
• Sign up Chatback for info
• The library/museum/art galleries

Q: How long will I get support for housing from Children & Young People Service?

A: Kirklees has a responsibility for you up to the age of 21. However, if you stay in education they will continue to support you up to the age of 25. You can also get support from Housing if you are between 21 and 25 years old.

Q: Can I get a leaving care grant again if I have to move against my will?

A: Usually you only get 1 leaving care grant but in an exceptional situation this can be looked at (ask your Personal Advisor)

Q: Who pays for educational materials (books, equipment, etc) after I’m 16?

A: The Leaving Care Team will pay to support you in continuing education up to the age of 25, if you are a care leaver. Your Personal Adviser will help you with this.