The Wyre Forest St Basils scheme mYPlace, has this month helped three more young people access the private rental market to take the final step towards independence and move into their own accommodation.
Friends Scott and Jade who are 21 and 18 have this week moved into a two bed house, let by a private Landlord and Charlie moved into his own flat last week which is let by Kidderminster based Mark Jones property Lettings. This is an important step towards independence for all these young people who were once homeless and previously had been living at supported housing schemes.
The mYPlace scheme, funded by Crisis, aims to help young people aged 18-25 secure good quality rental accommodation from private landlords in the Wyre Forest area, which due to the labels associated with being homeless or on benefits were previously unavailable to them.
The mYPlace scheme offers a range of intensive and flexible support services to both landlords and tenants in order to help create sustainable tenancies to benefit all parties. This includes providing the Rent Deposit, usually to the value of the first four weeks rent. It also includes rent in advance which the tenants then pay back over two years, making it an affordable housing venture.
Christine Brookes, Manager at Mark Jones Property Lettings said; “I think this scheme is a good idea, I don’t think Charlie would have got a property coming in on his own, but this scheme provides a bit more security for all of us and the fact that Charlie has no history of rent arrears speaks volumes”.
Charlie said; This has been so much easier than I thought it would be; I’ve had so much help throughout the whole process. I really like my new flat, it’s affordable and in an area I like. It’s brand new and this is a brand new start for me as well!”.
Jayne Russell, mYPlace Co-ordinator said; “The mYPlace scheme is really taking off now, we’ve had a very positive response to an advert we placed and we have some good landlords now with great properties lined up for all the referrals we have coming in now from local supported housing projects such as Stonham and emergency projects such as Nightstop amongst others, it just keeps getting better! The three young people we have helped this month have all secured great properties. I think Charlie will do really well in Private Rented accommodation and set a leading example to other young people.”
