Accommodation - Young People
Organisations that can help you
If you are a young person and you are homeless or you think you might become homeless soon then it is important that you get some help to try and sort your situation out. The important thing to remember is that if things do become difficult then ask for help from your support worker, social worker or someone you trust. If you do not have anyone that you feel able to talk to you can always contact SHELTER. Or you might want to think about contacting your local Citizens Advice Bureau or if you know of a local advice centre it would be good to contact them and discuss problems you are having with them.
Living on your own can be really difficult. It is important to make the effort to keep in touch with friends and family if you can. One thing you need to avoid is your flat becoming a place where everyone hangs out because this will almost certainly lead to trouble with your neighbours and landlord and could eventually lead to you being evicted.
Dealing with Housing
In Scotland you can leave home at sixteen without your parent's/carer's permission. When you are sixteen you can have your own tenancy (a legal agreement for a house). There are number of options open to when thinking about getting your own place. You can apply to the Glasgow Housing Association (used to be the council housing department) at your local housing office see contacts. Getting a flat in an area you want with the Glasgow Housing Association can be difficult and there will normally be a waiting list. You will not need a deposit but you will need to pay the bills. If you need rehoused in an emergency or are homeless and are under eighteen you need go to the Hamish Allen Centre at 180 Centre Street, 0141 287 1800 freephone 0800 838502 if you are over eighteen you can go to your local housing office (check). The law regarding your entitlement to housing is complicated before you go you may want to speak to someone at SHELTER. You can also read our section on your rights to housing link.
You can also apply to the many local housing associations in Glasgow. Most Housing have a waiting list so it may be quite some time before you are offered a house in the area you apply for.
You can also rent from a private landlord. This can be expensive but you can often rent a room in a shared flat/house If you are homeless or you want to move house there are a number of things you need to do. You will need to find a deposit and pay your share of the bills. There is a Rent Deposit Scheme that can help you with getting the money together.
It can be difficult moving into your own house/flat with little or no support from family or friends. Supported Accommodation is housing that comes with support from paid workers who will help you to learn to live on your own. There are many different types of supported accommodation including living in a shared flat with other young people in which paid workers come to visit you, a hostel which has support staff there all or part of the time, or living in a private house in which the people you are staying with offer you support when you need it.
Again when you are considering what your options are it is important to discuss things with someone you trust if you have a social worker or a support worker they will be able to discuss your options with you and may help you to start to find somewhere to live.
If you are homeless or think you are about to become homeless the following organisations can help you!
The Mungo Foundation - Glengowan House
196 Nithsdale Street, Glasgow, G41 5EU
Tel: 0141 424 1246/423 4765
Council for Homeless Young People - Wilton House
171 Wilton Street, Glasgow, G20 6DF
Tel: 0141 945 3871
The Mungo Foundation - London Road Project
1920 London Road, Glasgow, G32 8XG
Tel: 0141 778 1184
Quarriers Stopover
189 Pollockshaws Road, Glasgow, G41 1PS
Tel: 0141 420 3121
Talbot Association - Govanhill Project
75 Coplaw Street, Glasgow, G42 7JG
Tel: 0141 433 9223
The Firestation Project
509 St George's Road, Woodside, Glasgow, G3 6JX
Tel: 0141 332 7953