Beds for Borderline
As part of our housing service, we have developed a partnership with the YMCA.
How it works
A Borderline client’s room at the YMCA
We have developed a partnership with the YMCA to ensure priority access to rooms at one of their hostels in London. This provides warm, comfortable, private accommodation for those in need.
Borderline clients are also offered specialist support services aimed at improving employability through education, training and employment, as well as developing independent living skills such as cooking and budgeting.
Stage 1
When our client first arrives at the YMCA, they receive a 3-month accommodation license. This period allows for an assessment of each person’s needs, to start equipping them with independent life skills, and to help the individual to engage with relevant support services.
Stage 2
Providing the client has fully engaged with services, the license is then extended for a further 9 months where the client continues to receive support from their Support Worker.
Stage 3
By this time, our client should be established in education/ employment and/or training and engaging with services. The accommodation license is reviewed and extended for move on into the Stage 3 accommodation.
Stage 4
After 6 months in Stage 3, and provided that our client is still engaging with support and established in some form of education, employment and/or training, they will transfer into Stage 4 accommodation. This is the final stage of the hostel accommodation and programme.
mYPad
At this stage, our clients, if they are in full time employment, are moved into one of the YMCA mYPads, a self-contained studio apartment with a low rate of rent, that allows the client to save for a deposit to secure their own privately rented accommodation.
If our client remains unemployed, then housing is offered in one of the YMCA’s shared houses with 3-5 other residents. By this stage, whether living in one of the mYPads or shared houses, our clients have developed strong independent living skills, sustained employment or further education and are ready to moving onto independent living.
Impact
Each room can serve as a starter home for up to 18 months. This vital project ensures Borderline clients have a roof over their head while they can get their lives back on track. This is at a cost of just £665 per person. Help us to provide this lifeline to those in need.
Scott’s Story
Being homeless was the worst thing that ever happened to me