New lodging scheme for homeless

Brendon Williams
BBC news website

Three homeless teenagers helped launch the scheme

Home owners in Denbighshire are being invited to take in homeless teenagers as lodgers.

Denbighshire Support Lodgings (DSL), offers training and "generous financial entitlements" to those wishing to provide a home for people aged 16-18.

Three homeless teenagers, already helped through a similar scheme, joined the launch, which is aimed at helping young people to live independently.

The number of young homeless people in the county has risen in recent years.

Each householder and young person will be guided by a team of support workers.

Rent

All householders receive training, supervision and rent, paid either by the lodger or from benefits.

The scheme is run by Merseyside Accommodation Project (MAP) - a scheme set up to provide "family-style" support for young homeless people - and Denbighshire Council.

We're not all bad people, we just want somewhere to be safe Kieron Redgrift

Jenny Elliott, of Denbighshire Council's supporting people department, said: "Householders receive a payment just as they would from any other lodger.

"There would be a contribution from the young person themselves towards their general living costs.

"There would be a contribution from the council in terms of support. Then there's the rental element which would be met by the young person or through benefits."

She said there were eight people currently on the scheme, but that more householders were needed, adding: "The more we can recruit, the better."

'Leaps and bounds'

Kieron Redgrift, 16, is currently lodging with a family on the Wirral after experiencing problems.

Appealing to householders who might be interested in joining the scheme, he said: "We're not all bad people, we just want somewhere to be safe. And if you can support us and our needs, we'd like you so much to do that for us."

Mike Murray, 18, from Birkenhead, lost his mother at an early age and became homeless after struggling to come to terms with his father remarrying.

He said: "I was in supported lodging for two and a half years. I've now moved out of there and got myself a flat. I've got a job and my life's great.

"I'm building a future for myself - two years ago, I'd not say 'boo' to a goose."

Mike Kinealy, also 18 and from Birkenhead, was also in supported lodging after leaving home.

"It's really helped me come on in leaps and bounds. It's definitely what I needed, it's completely changed my life."

"Without this scheme I'd definitely be homeless."

Any home owners interested in taking part are asked to attend a launch event at the Eirianfa Community Centre in Denbigh between 1230 and 1400 BST.