Housing support for care leavers

Housing support for care leavers

We work with our partners at Hertfordshire County Council Children’s Services as part of the Hertfordshire Joint Housing Protocol to enable those leaving care to have access to suitable accommodation.

When leaving care it is natural to have questions about what happens next. There is support available to care leavers to help them through this journey.

Care leavers 16-17

If you are under the age of 18 and are in care, or have been in care, Hertfordshire County Council’s Children’s Services must legally help you by providing you with housing and helping you sustain your tenancy.

You can contact them by calling 0300 123 4043 or by visiting Hertfordshire County Council’s website.

Care leavers 18-25

Children’s Services will work in partnership with the council to try and find suitable accommodation for you when you leave care. Before you turn 18, your Personal Advisor will support you to make an application for social housing.

As per the council’s Housing Allocations Policy, Three Rivers care leavers will receive priority banding for social housing within the district. We use a choice-based lettings system which means that you are able to choose which appropriate properties you would like to live in and place bids for them on a weekly basis.

This bidding opens on Friday mornings at 9am and closes on the following Tuesday at 12pm. If you need help with bidding on any suitable property, the council can place you on our assisted bidding list, meaning that Officers will make bids on properties that are suitable for you. Properties are offered to those with the highest priority on the waiting list and you will be contacted by the council should you be successful.

Find out more about applying for social housing.

Applying for social housing

Applying for social housing can sometimes feel daunting; however, we try to make the process as simple as possible for you. You may be required to provide documentation alongside your application, however your Personal Advisor can help you through the process and the council’s Housing Advisers are also on hand to offer advice and support if required.

The council may be able to provide financial assistance with the deposit required to secure a property, for more information please see this link to the council’s application for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP).

Facing homelessness?

If you are homeless, or facing the threat of homelessness, we may have a duty to find you accommodation.

If you are worried you may be facing homelessness, please speak to your Personal Advisor or contact the council’s Housing Service using the contact details below:

Phone : 01923 776611

Email: housingenquiries@threerivers.gov.uk

You can also speak to the Herts Young Homeless Homeless Hub for support and guidance.

Further help and support

Hertfordshire County Council

Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) provide adults' and children's social care. Your Personal Advisor should be your first point of call, but you can contact Hertfordshire County Council if you are unable to speak with them.

Other help and support

It is important to remember that there is support out there. Below are a range of other organisations that can help:

• National Youth Advocacy Service - supporting care-experienced children, young people and adults in vulnerable situations
• Care Leavers Association – a growing network of care leavers with the vision ‘a good life in care, a good life after care’
• Become – the charity for children in care and young care leavers
• Herts Young Homeless – breaking the cycle of youth homelessness in Hertfordshire
• Shelter - advice, support and legal services for people of all ages with housing issues or who are facing homelessness.
• Turn2Us - helping people in financial need get access to benefits, charitable grants and other support
• 9 Lives Furniture - 25 Wharf Lane, Rickmansworth. Recycles furniture and other items. A 50% discount applies for people receiving means-tested benefits
• New Hope Trust - 67 Queens Road, Watford. Is one of the largest charity shops in Hertfordshire. Open Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm. Tel: 01923 236698

You can also pop into see us at our Visitor Centre in Rickmansworth, or at one of our Healthy Hubs across the district.