The project
In 2017, LandAid gave a £40,000 grant to New Horizon Youth Centre to fund a year’s salary for a housing support worker who is placing young people in safe and secure rented homes, and providing ongoing support. The accommodation is provided by Network Homes Housing Association and private landlords, and is located in seven London Boroughs: Hackney, Islington, Haringey, Redbridge, Newham, Lewisham and Enfield.
The New Horizon and Network Homes partnership provides supported housing for 20 young people. It is named ‘Project Vista’, and won first prize at the London Homelessness Awards 2017.
In 2018, LandAid awarded a further £35,000 to New Horizon – £30,000 will go towards a Housing Support Worker salary and £5,000 towards a pilot ‘guardian’ tenancies project.
The impact
The housing support worker will help secure new tenancies for young people who are homeless, in addition to managing the existing tenancies they have already found for young people. Having safe housing provides young people with the security they need to find or maintain employment, pursue their careers and earn more to support themselves in the future.
The ‘guardian’ tenancies project will place two young people from New Horizon as property guardians within DotDotDot and Lowe Guardians’ property portfolios. It will also provide them with light-touch support to help them develop the skills to live independently.