Up to the age of 21 the Leaving Care service will help you to find suitable accommodation. Some of the accommodation possibilities are outlined below:
- Foster care: if appropriate you will be able to remain with your foster carers or in some circumstances placed in foster care.
- Staying Put: this is when you and your foster carer both agree that you can remain living with them. This can, in some circumstances, continue until you are twenty-one years old.
- Semi-Independent accommodation: this is the provision of a room in a shared house, generally with key-worker support. This option focuses on preparing you for independence.
- YMCA: this option provides safe, secure and affordable accommodation. You'll have a key-working system and will help you with such issues as claiming benefits and finding training or employment.
- Host Carers: you'll have a room in the host's home with a considerable degree of independence.
- Independent Living: this where you'll be living in privately rented accommodation. However you must be in a position agree the terms of the tenancy and pay the rent. In some cases you may be eligible for a council tenancy through the Locata system.
If you are a Harrow Care leaver aged 18–20 you will be treated as a higher-need category under homelessness legislation.
For more details please contact us using the details below.
UASC Leaving Care Team
Housing advice
020 8863 5611 (out of hours)
Citizens Advice Bureau
Advice and support including welfare benefits advice
Address: Civic 9Station Road
Harrow
HA1 2XH
Centrepoint
Centrepoint provides housing and support for young people in London and across the country