Supported Lodgings is shared accommodation where the Supported Lodgings Carer provides a young person with practical and emotional support with a view to increasing their confidence and readiness to move on into independent living.
From the age of 16 some young people decide that they want to be more independent than within a foster home, but they either lack confidence or the skills required for them to move into their own bedsit/hostel accommodation. Supported Lodgings offers them the opportunity to experience elements of independence within a supportive and encouraging environment.
Reasons why a young person may enter Supported Lodgings:
In Milton Keynes we have a constant need for carers for young people aged 16 to 21 who are unable to live at home with their families. This could be for many different reasons – for example:
• Young person is leaving the care of the Milton Keynes Council
• Young person has been asked to leave the family home
• Family breakdown
• Young person has been in trouble
• Young person has been misusing drugs and/or alcohol and needs a supportive environment to help them change
• Risk of harm
Young people who are unable to live at home can be extremely vulnerable. In many respects these young people may appear to be confident but they do not have the skills and confidence to live alone successfully.
Without the security of a safe place to live and the guidance of caring and responsible adults there is a strong possibility that many of these young people may fail – ending up jobless and homeless and with little hope of things getting better.