Could you help prevent a young person from becoming homeless?
St Basils needs people who have a spare room and a caring heart to help us in our mission to reduce youth homelessness. Our Supported Lodgings scheme, Home-2-Home places people aged 16-18 (occasionally older) who have experienced family breakdown within the homes of Hosts/Host families. The impact of living with a Host can be transformational for a young person and it is a rewarding experience for a Host.
About Home2Home
Home2Home aims to help people aged 16-19 who are vulnerable but low risk to make that final step to independence. We recruit ‘Hosts’ from all walks of life who have a spare room and want to make a difference by providing accommodation and support to a young person in need.
The scheme aims to recruit Hosts who can provide encouragement and guidance to enable them to develop the practical skills and confidence needed to make the leap to independent living. This means they can move on in a planned way, and helps to prevent ‘crisis’ situations.
In return, Hosts receive a weekly financial contribution and a support package which includes training and social activities with other Hosts.
Checks and a thorough matching service are carried out for both the Host and young person and both also receive ongoing support from our staff for the duration of their stay, be it a few months or a maximum of two years.
Research shows that particularly vulnerable young people are more likely to make the step to independent living successfully if they are part of the community and have local support networks, and this is what Home2Home aims to achieve. Young people living with a Host in the local community also escape much of the stigma sometimes associated with living in a supported accommodation project.
Becoming a Host
To become a Host, you don’t need professional experience of working with young people, although having an understanding of young people’s needs can help. Hosts receive full training from St Basils and are paid £140pw+ whilst a young person is in placement.
If you have an empty room in your house and a desire to help somebody in need, please get in touch via the button below, or email host@stbasils.org.uk /call us on 0121 772 9593.