Young People's Housing Service

The Young People’s Housing Service (YPHS) provides accommodation and support for young people aged between 16-24 years. The length of stay is normally up to two years.

We will help you to learn to live independently and take responsibility for your own life by:

• Providing support in everyday living in accordance with your agreed individual support plan.
• Consulting and working in partnership with you and other relevant key people to develop and sustain flexible and responsive services.
• Providing and maintaining good quality housing.
• Promoting your awareness of your rights and responsibilities.
• Supporting you to make informed choices and develop the skills needed to live independently.

Support 

We can provide flexible support, from just a couple of hours each week to 24-hour support. This support can include:

• practical assistance with daily living such as shopping, healthy eating and budgeting.
• help and guidance to access education, leisure and employment opportunities.
• support to address personal, emotional and health issues.
• guidance for young people to help them to stay safe in their homes and off the street.
• support to enable young people to understand their responsibilities under their tenancy agreements and maintain their tenancies.

The overall focus of our work with young people is to support them to gain the skills and confidence necessary for independent living.

Accommodation

We provide a range of supported housing options which include hostels, flats and three converted houses where young people live as a group. Two of these are in Watford and the third is in Hemel Hempstead. Between them these three houses provide accommodation for 19 young people in need of higher levels of support. All three sites are staffed throughout the night and have an office base for our day staff.

All of our properties are either a bus ride from or within walking distance of local town centres.

Applying

To be eligible for accommodation and support with us you must:

• be aged between 16 - 25 years
• agree to work with our staff to develop and comply with planned support
• accept the principles of shared living (applicable to shared housing only)
• be eligible to receive housing benefit or be able to pay your rent.

You can be referred to us by another agency such as Children's Schools and Families, the Probation Service, Local Authority or other agencies who you receive support from. The agency who refers you will need to complete an application form.

You can also refer yourself by either completing an application form or calling the scheme manager on: 01442 215643 or 01923 210490.