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Your home

Where you live

Many young people still live at home up until they are 18 which is why we will encourage you to stay in care until this age. Your social worker and personal adviser will make sure you have the right information and advice at the right time to help you plan and prepare for where you are going to live.

key to front door

  • We will help you register for housing in the area you want to settle. If you are living in Cambridgeshire you can apply to any of the housing districts. You will be eligible for priority housing need as a care leaver. You can make your application when you are aged 17.5 which means you get some extra time on the waiting list.
  • If you are living with your foster family, you might both want to consider Staying Put. This arrangement allows you to stay with your carer beyond your 18th birthday and up to your 21st birthday if this is the right thing for you both. If you go to university the Staying Put arrangement can be extended until your course comes to an end.
  • You might want to consider Staying Connected - Break. It is a project providing good quality shared housing with support until you are ready to take on your own place.
  • Supported Lodgings might work for you if you want a room to rent with a host that is both understanding and nurturing whilst giving you responsibility and freedoms you need as an adult. This could be an option up to your 23rd birthday. Supported lodgings for young people in Cambridgeshire
  • We will work with you and the housing districts (or the authority you chose to settle in) supporting you to get a place to call home. This might be social housing (managed by the council or a housing association), private accommodation or buying your first home.

When you do move into your first home there are lots of things we will assist you with including;

  • A Setting Up Home Allowance of £3,000. This is to help you furnish your home. Your personal adviser will support you to make sure you get the best value out of this by shopping around and finding good deals.
  • First food shop.
  • 1st year's TV license.
  • Decorating grant if you need this.
  • Help you work out your finances and priority payments.
  • Support you if things don’t work out and you find yourself in a crisis or emergency situation, working with housing colleagues to make sure you are safe and have a plan.
  • If your name is on the council tax bill (which means you are a ‘liable person’) we will pay your contribution up to your 21st birthday. If you are between 21 and 24 (up to your 25th birthday) we will explore funds that can assist with your council tax bill.