Housing & Living Skills
Are you thinking about leaving home, or have you already left home?
Have you been asked to leave?
Are you sofa surfing with friends?
You should get information and advice as soon as possible as sometimes finding housing can be a lengthy process and you might run out of places to sleep.
Finding housing can be frustrating and confusing, but you can get support from Centre33 to understand your options.
If you are under 26 years old, arrange an appointment with the Housing and Living Skills worker at Centre33 on: 01223 316488 or just pop in to see us in 33 Clarendon Street, Cambridge, CB1 1JX Mon-Wed 10am-5pm |
If you are under 18 and homeless or at risk of homelessness
Centre33 can talk you through your options.
You might be able to get assistance from Social Services. Centre33 (or Connexions) can make a referral to Social Services and support you through the whole process if you decide to take up that option, and we can support you in getting your voice heard.
Social Services may be able to help you to stay at home or to arrange for you to live elsewhere.
You may want support in talking to whoever you were living with before which can be organised and is referred to as Mediation.
Sometimes your home might not be a safe place for you to be, so it is particularly important that you get the right support as soon as possible.
Social services may also be able to support you with money or you might be entitled to some benefits in certain circumstances.
If you are between 18 and 25 and homeless or at risk of homelessness
Centre33 can talk with you about your options.
We may be able to refer you to supported living projects, if this is what you want us to do.
If you are not working and in receipt of benefits such as JSA you will be able to receive Housing Benefit, which covers most of the costs, but you will be asked to pay a contribution towards the rent.
If you are working you might be able to get some help towards your rent depending on your level of income.
If you don’t have anywhere to sleep tonight you might be able to stay at Jimmy’s night shelter. You will need to register with them at 6pm on the night you want to stay there, but it may depend on whether they have an available bed space.
If you are sleeping rough the Street Outreach Team can support you and might be able to refer you into supported housing.
In some cases the City Council is able to support you with housing, but only if you are in priority need and if you have a local connection. You have a local connection if you have lived in Cambridge for 6 out of 12 months or 3 out of the last 5 years.
If you are currently without a job and looking for work you can claim Job Seekers Allowance. There might be other benefits you are entitled to, if your income is low.
If you are between 18 and 25 and you are thinking of renting privately
There are a lot of things to consider if you are planning to move out from home and rent a place privately.
Centre33 is able to help you think through the steps you need to take towards being independent.
In general we would recommend that you check what you can afford before moving out. The Citizen’s Advice Bureau provides a Budget Sheet on their website which helps you to look at your income and your outgoing costs to estimate how much rent you could afford on a monthly basis.
Youthoria can also help you to have an overview of potential living costs.
Further information on housing benefit or additional benefits can also be found through the homeless organisation Shelter. They also provide information on your housing options.
You can also get this information from government websites.
Support with food:
Centre33 is working together with the foodbank and we are able to provide you with a foodbank voucher if you are currently in a financial crisis and do not have enough money to buy food. You can have up to three vouchers and each one will provide you with enough food for several days. You can exchange the voucher for food at the foodbank which is open three times a week.
Wintercomfort provides Breakfast & Refreshments, Shower & Bathing facilities, Access to Laundry & Clothing store, Support with Housing & Access to Health Care Services.