Help with housing costs and finding somewhere to live
There are a range of housing options available to you. These will depend on your age, availability, needs and your own wishes and feelings. We will start to develop a housing plan together when you are aged 15 years and 9 months.
We will support you every step of the way, so please reach out to your personal advisor if you need any support or have any questions.
If you are no longer cared for by us, we will support you to find suitable housing that meets your needs. This will not be a foster care placement, but could include supported lodgings or semi-independent accommodation.
We start talking with you about your housing options from the age of 15 years and 9 months as part of your pathway planning. We use information from pathway plans, reviews and accommodation assessments to understand the future housing needs of care experienced young people and help ensure suitable accommodation and support are available.
We regularly review local housing needs and work with partners to develop accommodation and support services that meet the changing needs of care experienced young people. Your views and experiences help us understand what is working well and where improvements may be needed.
Children's Services and Housing Services work closely together to help care experienced young people find and maintain suitable accommodation.
This includes:
Your personal adviser will work alongside Housing Services and other professionals to make sure you receive the support you need.
If you live with a foster family, we will explore whether you can stay with them until you are 21. This can be a positive option if you enjoy your foster home, have supportive relationships, and are learning the skills needed for independent living.
This is called a ‘Staying Put’ arrangement.
This is where you live in a family home with carers who have been assessed as able to meet your needs. This includes helping you develop independence skills such as budgeting, cooking, and managing appointments. You can stay until the age of 21.
This is shared housing for young people. You will have your own bedroom and share communal areas like the kitchen and bathroom. There are different options, which depend on an assessment, interview and matching process to make sure you can live safely and happily with others. Support levels differ depending on the setting and your needs. It suits those with good independence who just need further support before living fully on their own. It is also a great option for those who like being around others and having opportunities to socialise.
If you are approaching 18 and have developed strong independence skills with minimal support needs, a training flat with floating support may suit you. It offers a short to medium-term opportunity to learn how to live independently, before moving on to your own tenancy.
From age 16, we will start transition planning with adult social care to prepare for your 18th birthday. If adult social care agrees you meet the Care Act 2014 criteria, you may be accepted for Shared Lives or Supported Living.
Shared Lives allows you to stay with your previous carer if you need ongoing daily support. Supported Living offers housing for disabled people who want to live independently but need some help.
When you turn 18, your personal advisor can help you apply for social housing. Your application will be backdated to your 16th birthday, which gives you a higher priority on the housing list.
If you choose to live outside Torbay, we will help you find accommodation in your chosen area. If you are under the age of 25 and have care experience, housing authorities cannot refuse you access to their housing register simply because you do not have a local connection to their area. If you are considering moving outside Torbay, your personal adviser can help you understand your options and the support available to you.
Housing rules vary across the UK, and some councils may not accept a duty to house you. We will always hold a housing duty for you in Torbay and your personal advisor will do all they can to support you.
Privately rented accommodation can be self-contained, like a studio flat, or shared, such as a room in a house. This option suits young people who can live independently and manage a tenancy without support.
If you are care experienced, you are automatically entitled to the one-bedroom funding rate. This gives you more choice and access to suitable housing.
Your personal advisor will help you explore your options based on your location, income and support needs. They can also help you find properties, arrange viewings, complete applications and understand your tenancy agreement.
We may be able to help with the costs of moving into a private rental. This depends on a needs assessment and whether the property is affordable for you long term. Our aim is to help you achieve financial stability and secure housing.
This means staying in someone else's home without your own tenancy agreement. While this can offer benefits, you will not have legal rights to the property and may be asked to leave at any time. Speak to your personal advisor before moving in with family or friends so they can help and support you.
We will help you find suitable accommodation near your chosen university. This could be university-managed housing or local student lettings.
You can access bursaries and support services to help with university costs.
When your course ends, we will support you to find new accommodation. Your personal advisor will plan this with you in advance through your pathway plan.
We will support you to work towards owning your own home. This includes help with budgeting, improving your credit score and setting savings goals for a deposit.
Once you are ready, we will guide you through the next steps—applying for a mortgage, finding a property and understanding the buying process. We will also help you connect with key professionals, such as a mortgage broker and solicitor.
If you are due to leave custody or another secure setting, we will work with you to plan for your release as early as possible.
Your personal adviser will work alongside Housing Services and other professionals to identify suitable accommodation and support before you leave custody. We will help you understand your housing options and work with you to reduce the risk of homelessness and support a successful transition back into the community.
If you are worried about your accommodation following release, speak to your personal adviser as soon as possible.
If you're at risk of becoming homeless, contact your personal advisor straight away. It is important to act early so we have time to plan with you.
We will always work with you to prevent homelessness wherever possible. If you are at risk of losing your accommodation, your personal adviser, Housing Services and other professionals will work together with you to identify solutions and support you to remain in suitable accommodation. Where this is not possible, we will help you access alternative accommodation and the support you need.
We have specialist staff at the council who can support you. This includes a tenancy sustainment officer and a care-experienced homelessness prevention worker.
We provide a ‘personal allowance’ payment to cover your daily living costs if you are living semi-independently and cannot claim benefits. We will help you to budget, for example by supporting you to prepare a meal planner and a shopping list.
We can sometimes help with additional financial support. For example, we may give you a food voucher to make sure you always have enough for food.
If you are aged 16 or 17 and living semi-independently, you may be entitled to clothing allowance of up to £550 a year. This will be assessed through your pathway plan and will consider any additional clothing you may need for education or employment purposes.
When you leave care and are ready to live independently, you may be eligible for a Setting Up Home Allowance of £3,000. This allowance can be used to buy essential furniture, appliances and equipment for your home. Your Personal Adviser will explain how the allowance works and help you access it.
When you move into your first home, you may also receive a one-off payment of up to £200 to buy essential items, such as bedding or cutlery.
As a care experienced young person, you many also get a council tax discount.
If you think this support could help you, speak to your Personal Adviser. They can explain what is available, check whether you are eligible and help you access the support you need.
Care Experienced Team