HOUSEHOLDERS in Flintshire are being encouraged to offer up a room to a homeless person.
Flintshire Supported Lodgings will pay £140 per week to the kind-hearted who share their home with a young person aged 16 to 25.
Youngsters can be referred to the Mold-based charity by Flintshire Council and other organisations like Deeside College or Careers Wales.
They can live with a householder for up to two years.
Branch manager Rob Taylor said: “Before now homeless young people were passed between social services and housing, which would lead them to depression or drug and alcohol issues.
“Then local authorities started to realise that the support and enablement approach was the best option rather than leaving them languishing in bed and breakfasts without any support.
“And that’s where we come in.”
Those willing to offer a room will be interviewed and made to undergo special training to ensure they can cope with their new lodger.
Mr Taylor said they must strike the right balance between a foster carer and a friend.
“By providing them with lodgings and support both practically and emotionally from our fully-trained householders, we hope to give our local youngsters a chance in life,” he said.
“We are witnessing a whole generation of people aged 16-21 being lost, due to unfair representation and no employment opportunities and more worrying a large increase in homelessness.
“Our young people come with different needs, but the householder will become more experienced with the more young people they have.”
Currently there are nine young people in Flintshire in place with a householder and three are waiting to be assessed.
Just 13 householders across the county have volunteered their help.
“Over the last year, we have noticed a large increase of young people approaching our service looking for a stable home and support in areas such as education,” added Mr Taylor.
“Our householders are as much a part of the team as our young people. It may be a challenging role but it’s also very rewarding.”
Householders claiming benefits will still be entitled to the £140 per week to help pay for their young person.
Call Rob Taylor on 01352 700838 if you can help.