Housing

HOUSING SUPPORT

Young Devon provides housing support across Devon for young people aged 16 – 25. We have Supported Housing projects located in North Devon ~ Barnstaple, Bideford, Ilfracombe. And South Devon ~ Ivybridge, Newton Abbot, and Tavistock. The Supported Housing projects work with young people with high to medium needs of support. Move on accommodation is for low needs.

These projects range from 24 hours staff cover to those who have staff available during some of the day with night staff. These projects provide accommodation for young people who require additional support to assist them to acquire the skills to live independently within their chosen community. These areas of life skills would include budgeting, cooking, health, relationships and employment and training amongst others.

Young Devon works in partnership with agencies who refer young people into the housing projects ~ Children and Young peoples teams, Care leavers teams, Youth Offending teams, Local Authority Housing Departments etc, Young Peoples Drug & Alcohol teams, and Connexions.

Working in partnership ensures that the young people have a level of continuity from the referring agency who are then able to support Young Devon if or when required to provide additional support, this may be around substance misuse or being unable to find appropriatate training.

Young Devon support workers are experienced in providing support and guidance to young people who have had varied life experiences, and may have difficulty accepting their current situation. Through key worker meetings and reviews support workers are able to plan with the young person their main objectives for the future and work in partnership with them to attain the skills required for them to move towards independent living. It is accepted that young people stay for a period of approximately 18 months

Young Devon has access to our own move on accommodation, when the young person is ready to move towards independent living, therefore moving to their own flat, but with floating support from their key worker to maintain a level of continuity to able them to sustain this important development in their lives. Young Devon also moves young people into independent move on accommodation through other providers.

Young Devon is also available to provide support to young people who have their own accommodation i.e., local authority housing, housing associations, and private landlords. They are usually referred in from the agency or may have contacted staff at the Youth Enquiry Services in Ivybridge, Newton Abbot,Tavistock and Exeter.

All the Youth Enquiry Services have experienced housing support workers who can provide practical information, support young people in the prevention of homelessness and other housing issues.

Floating support is available to young people across Devon. This provides ongoing support of approximately 2-3 hours per week to enable the young person to maintain their home and not be at risk of losing accommodation and becoming homeless. Young Devon provides in excess of 55 units of floating support.

For more information contact:
chris.danby@youngdevon.org
Housing Services Coordinator
Telephone : 01822 612555