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People in Worcestershire are being urged to use their spare room to help prevent a young person from being homeless in 2012.
Herefordshire Supported Housing for Young People (SHYPP), an award-winning organisation that supports young people at risk of homelessness in Herefordshire, is starting its first scheme outside of its home county, as it offers its expertise to the people of Worcestershire.
Together with Worcestershire County Council, SHYPP, which is part of Kemble Housing and WM Housing Group, is launching a supported lodgings scheme to help young people aged 16 to 21 who are either homeless or in need of support to prevent homelessness.
The project is seeking hosts who can provide a temporary home and a supportive environment for the youngsters, who need support to prepare them for living independently. Hosts will receive a weekly payment and training.
The scheme will offer a period of stability for the lodgers while SHYPP works with the young people and the local council’s 16-plus team to prepare for their move to independence.
Bibby Millichap, from Leominster, has been a supported lodgings host for two years, and has had five young people stay with her.
She said: “It can be very rewarding being host as it helps someone to get on to the right path in life. Things like teaching them how to use a washing machine or how to cook helps them to learn how to live independently.
“SHYPP is supportive and you know there is always someone available to call if you have any problems. It’s not all perfect and it can be challenging but that’s part of the reason for doing it.”
Melanie Turner, outreach support worker, at SHYPP, said: “It is shocking how many youngsters are at risk of homelessness, often either as a result of family breakdown, or because they are leaving the care system. Our experience in Herefordshire shows that if we can give them comprehensive help, both in terms of a stable home and in working with them to build their self-confidence and the skills that they will need for a future career, that we can assist them to turn their lives around and build their own stable and hopefully happy future.
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Sixteen-year-old Sophie Headon and her host Bibby Millichap.
“We’ve run these types of schemes for many years in Herefordshire and in many cases we don’t only get fantastic response from the young people, but we frequently get great feedback from the host families, who find this to be a positive experience.”
The requirements for a supported lodgings host are that they live in Worcestershire, have a spare room or a self-contained living space and have a genuine interest in helping young people to make the most of their skills and abilities.
Hosts will receive a weekly payment and will receive support and training from SHYPP. All hosts will be expected to undergo an enhanced CRB check.
For more information, or to become a supported lodgings provider, please contact Mel Turner at SHYPP on 01432 374320.
SHYPP works in Herefordshire with 16 – 25 year olds. It offers emergency and medium-term accommodation in supported housing projects, outreach support to young people and young parents, a ‘Nightstop’ emergency accommodation project and education in schools.
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