Accommodation
Your Personal Adviser will support you to find suitable accommodation. This might include:
Staying Put - if this is what you and your foster Carers want we will support you to remain in you placement under what is called a ‘Staying Put’ placement. This can continue until you are 21. See Bury Staying Put policy for more details (this policy can be accessed as a download on the left hand side of this page).
Semi-independent accommodation - You can access semi-independent accommodation if you are not ready or don’t want your own tenancy. Your Social Worker and PA are available to provide you with guidance, advice and information in relation to your accommodation options.
Supported Lodgings - this is accommodation within a family home. The young person is provided with their own bedroom and must be engaged in education, employment or training. Support is provided informally by the host family. The young person is expected to make a contribution towards living costs and purchase their own food for lunches and evening meals.
House of multiple occupancy - these are run by private providers across Bury, these properties usually accommodate between two and four care leavers and are staffed 24/7. The higher staffing ratio provides for more intense support for semi-independent care leavers to engage with services and appointments as well as the development of their independence skills and occasional assistance with transport. Children Services will fund this type of placement up to a maximum of 18years of age.
Independent living options, Social Housing and Private Tenancies
Your Personal Adviser will help to you to consider whether you are tenancy ready and will provide you with support to make decisions about your housing. This might include:
- Supporting you to complete a housing application. Young People will be awarded a ‘Band 1’ Housing status when they are ready to manage the demands of their own social housing tenancy. Our Tenancy Worker, Claire Killeen, offers a housing/ tenancy ready drop in every Thursday afternoon, 1-3pm and can help you to develop your skills to get ready for managing your own home, but also work with you if you are in your own home and finding it hard
- Practical support including linking you up with an independent visitor who can support you with moving into, furnishing and decorating your own tenancy.
- Support with claiming housing benefit/Universal credit.
- We know it can be very hard having your own place for the first time. We will do whatever we can to ease the pressures on you. In Bury Care leavers are exempt from paying council tax until age 25.
- Bury Council will never make care leavers intentionally homeless
The National House Project work with our young people who are aged 16-17 in order to support them to prepare for managing their own home. Involvement in this project does require a weekly commitment, groups sessions and a project to be completed before your graduate! Link to the website: Home | The National House Project (thehouseproject.org). Groups are run twice a year and you can speak to your social worker or Personal Advisor about this scheme
If you wish to apply for Social Housing in another Local Authority you will have to provide evidence of a local connection. Your PA will be able to provide you with advice, guidance and support throughout this process.
Alternatively, you may wish to secure a private let but please be aware that the Local Authority cannot act as a Guarantor for any private rental arrangements, however, your PA will be able to provide you with a reference if you are assessed as being tenancy ready and information, advice and guidance on accessing Housing related financial support and benefits.
Support in a crisis
We understand that at times young people may have a housing crisis. In these circumstances we will work closely with the housing team to try and find you temporary accommodation while more permanent accommodation can be found. More information regarding this is available from your PA or you can contact the housing department directly on 0161 253 5251 and ask to speak to the duty worker.
Six Town Housing Tenants
For any concerns in respect of families who are tenants of Six Town Housing, the STH contact centre is still open (remotely) – click on the link. STH staff are carrying out regular checks on tenants offering reassurance and offering/signposting to help and completing emergency repairs and compliance (gas/electric/water) checks.