We want to ensure that you have the right support with accommodation. Setting up your home is an important step for you. We want to help you be prepared for this to enable you to have every success. We will ensure you have the opportunity to learn and develop your interdependent living skills to prepare you for adulthood.

We will begin discussions with you around your 16th birthday about where you would like to live at 18 and what options are available to you.

Options may include:

Staying in your regulated supported accommodation or moving to the YMCA.  We recognize that not everyone feels ready to move to their own tenancy at 18 and some may need additional support to help get them ready.  This can be discussed with your PA and Social Worker and included within your Pathway Plan.

We work closely with the YMCA and have some dedicated rooms & flats available there for our care experienced young people.  They are also able to offer additional support in areas such as employment, wellbeing and health.  To see accommodation options at the YMCA: Homes for Young People - YMCA Milton Keynes (mkymca.com)

If you are living with a foster family, you and they may decide you want to remain living with your foster family after you turn 18. This is called a ‘Staying Put’ arrangement. We will arrange a meeting with you and your foster family to discuss these arrangements with you before your 16th birthday where possible to ensure it runs smoothly.  A staying put arrangement can continue until you are 21 years old, and after if you and your fosters cares are happy to continue the arrangement privately.

Shared lives. This is a scheme often similar to Staying put.  It is arranged by Adult Social Care and they would need to complete an assessment with you first to see if it is suitable for you.  Your PA will discuss with you whether this would be a suitable option for you.

Your own tenancy.  We support all our young people to register a housing application with Milton Keynes housing after your 16th birthday.  If you are not living in Milton Keynes or do not intend to when over 18 then we will explore all your housing options with you so you can make an informed decision about the route you wish to follow.

You may also wish to consider privately renting a property or saving for a mortgage.  This can be discussed with your PA and will be reflected within your Pathway Plan.

If you are aged over 18, your personal advisor will help you to find suitable accommodation.

Your Personal Advisor will give you advice and support with the following:

• Advice about holding a tenancy, including avoiding rent arrears, paying bills and budgeting. 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. 
• As a Milton Keynes Care Leaver do not have to pay council tax until your 25th birthday. Your PA will help you set up the relevant forms to ensure you do not have to pay this.
• Helping you to claim universal credit to cover your rent if needed. We will support you with appointments at the Job Centre if you need to make a benefits claim.
• Practical support with moving into and furnishing your new home. We will provide you with a setting up home allowance (details can found in Finance Policy).
• Supporting you if you have a housing crisis, this includes helping if you are threatened with or losing a tenancy.
• When ready to move to your first tenancy we will support you in getting together money for a deposit and first month’s rent if needed.
• We will ensure you have a starter pack with many essential items and assist with the costs of your first week’s shopping.
• Your PA will support you in setting up and paying for your first years tv license if you need one, as well as 1 year’s home contents insurance.
• Your PA will support you in setting up and paying for your first years wifi at home.

To help you prepare for your first tenancy we:

Offer workshops jointly with housing in Milton Keynes.  These are called our ‘Next Steps’ program and are co-ordinated by our youth worker.  For young people not living in Milton Keynes your PA or carer will be able to go through this learning with you.  Or we can offer a virtual group for you to attend.

We work closely with housing to ensure you have all the right information to make an informed choice about your home.

If living in Milton Keynes, you will have priority banding for housing.  This means that housing will priorities your application.

If you have a housing crisis it is important that you tell us immediately so we can help, we may also be able to apply for additional tenancy support through adult Services.

You can have floating support at home when needed.  This is a support worker who can visit you during the week to make sure that you are ok, offers advise and guidance and can help with some practical tasks such as addressing any bills.

In Milton Keynes City Council the 16-25 team work closely with Housing. There is a Joint Housing Policy in place for care experienced young people which can be viewed here. 

Joint Housing Protocol for Care Experienced Young People

Joint Housing Protocol for Care Experienced Young People (plain text)