Supported lodgings

Stepping Stones

Stepping Stones is a small supported lodgings option in Somerset. You have your own room in the home of a family or an individual. You share places like the kitchen and bathroom.

The person who provides Stepping Stones will give you some support, but they will not look after you in the same way a foster carer would. The aim is to help you become more independent, while still having someone there if you need help.

Leaving care shared houses

The Somerset Leaving Care Service has some homes just for care leavers. There are two houses in Taunton and one in Bridgwater.

You will have your own bedroom, but you will share the kitchen and bathrooms with others.

The houses are supported by staff and security. They are there to offer help, provide support during the night, and check that everything is okay, so you feel safe and supported.

Thrive 16+ service

You could also live in shared, supported accommodation, which caters for young people aged 16 to 25 more generally – not just care leavers.

This is run through an accommodation scheme called Thrive 16+, you can find more information here: Housing advice for young people aged 16 to 25 (somerset.gov.uk)

This type of accommodation can vary in size but is available in all parts of Somerset.

Young people are supported by staff who help you prepare for independent living and your own place in the future.

Thrive 16+ can also help with access to supported accommodation (including emergency accommodation) to prevent you being homeless and support you to register with the district council for housing through ‘Homefinder Somerset’ as well as look for private rented accommodation.

Social and private landlords

Somerset Council and Housing Associations

From the age of 18 you can register with Homefinder Somerset. This is where council and housing association homes (known as social housing) for rent are advertised. Care leavers are a priority group for these homes, but there are far more people seeking social housing than available homes, so it still may take some time for you to be successful.

Everyone who registers is expected to prove that they can be a successful tenant before the council or housing association will put them forward for a flat.

This is why completing ASDAN can really help you. Please discuss this with your Leaving Care Worker (PA). When you have completed the agreed ASDAN booklets and have been awarded a certificate in each, you can be nominated by either the Thrive support worker or your Leaving Care Worker (if you are in Leaving Care Accommodation) for ‘Gold-Banding’. When this is completed, as a care leaver, your application is back-dated to your 16th birthday, which should enable a quick move into your accommodation.

Private renting

This is where you rent from a landlord, either through a letting agency or directly. There can sometimes be problems with landlords not accepting people on benefits or who are in college.

There are many advantages to renting privately:

• There are no waiting lists, so you will be able to move in quickly
• You can choose where you live in Somerset, and you can easily move to a different area if you want
• There are many different types of property available, from one-bedroom studio flats to houses big enough for large families
• The properties will usually be well decorated and carpeted; this is often not the case with social housing.
• The properties often come with a fridge, freezer and washing machine

Sometimes private landlords also want someone to act as a guarantor (someone who agrees to pay your rent if you don’t pay it), in case the rent isn’t paid or to cover the cost of any damage caused. Again, completing ASDAN may help you get a rented property. Also ask your Leaving Care Worker about the Corporate Rent Guarantor Scheme for Care Experienced Young People aged 18 to 25.

Sometimes, when you take on your own private rented accommodation, landlords need a little extra reassurance that they will receive the rent and this is usually done through a guarantor. A guarantor is a person who is willing to pay the rent if a tenant can’t. Typically, this person is an immediate family member, but people can use anyone, like a friend or a colleague, who is willing.

As a Care Leaver, Somerset Council, as your Corporate Parent, will do this on your behalf when you are ready to manage your own tenancy and if you are aged between 18 to 25 years old. The guarantor will be in place until your 25^th birthday. Once you turn 25, you will be responsible for all of your rent payments as the corporate rent guarantor scheme will end at this point. To access the scheme, you will need to show you are emotionally ready to manage a tenancy, can manage the rent payments and not get into debt. It is also important that once on the scheme, you let your Leaving Care Worker know as soon as possible if your financial circumstances change and this impacts on you being able to pay your rent.

To apply for the scheme, please speak to your Leaving Care Worker and they will help guide you through the next steps.

Living with family or friends

Some young people, when they turn 18, decide to go and live with their birth family or friends. If this is the option you want to consider, talk to your worker first, because they can help you plan this.

If you live back at home with your family, this can affect how long you get leaving care support for.