Young people
We provide housing with support in shared properties for vulnerable young people aged 18 to 24 who have been homeless or living in care, or who can no longer live with their families.
Our job is to give them support and encouragement while they pick up the skills needed to live independently. Accepting our support is an essential part of the deal.
Our service is for, usually, two years or less. We do not offer a permanent home. When a young person is ready to live independently we will help them find a new home to rent elsewhere.
We will offer guidance and advice, helping young people to pick up skills they will find useful. Some are practical, like cooking, budgeting and DIY. Some are personal, like hygiene and health care.
We will organise counselling if we think it will help, offer advice on health risks, including drug and alcohol use.
We actively encourage our young people to engage with local education and training services, including (if needed) English language skills.
Almost all our young people find work or start an apprenticeship or go on to further education. A substantial number graduate with a university degree.
Our housing support workers work closely with the statutory authorities and provide regular updates on progress.
Not a suitable service for everyone
Because our young people live in houses shared with other young people, we have to be careful who we house.
We cannot take a young parent caring for a baby or toddler because we cannot offer a suitable environment for a young child.
We cannot house a young person with an uncontrolled or serious drug or alcohol problem. And we cannot house anyone likely to be a risk to the health and safety of our other young tenants, or their neighbours.
Applying for housing
A Harrow connection is essential. This could be close family living in the borough, the young person living here now or in the past, or working or studying locally.
Most of the young people we help are referred to us through Harrow Council services or Harrow Homelessness Forum. We do accept some direct referrals.
All applicants must go through a formal interview before we will make an offer.
If we have a vacancy and believe they will benefit from our service, we may be able to arrange for them to move in within 24 hours.
If we do not have a suitable room available, we will put them on our waiting list. This may typically mean waiting for up to a month.