Housing, home and the cost of living

Supported accommodation and floating support providers who are commissioned by Devon County Council to provide services to young people are on the My Future, My Way framework.

What is My Future, My Way?

My Future, My Way is about different services working together to make sure you receive the right support, at the right time, in the right place, from people who have the right skills and relationships to help you succeed. Through My Future, My Way, support providers work alongside each other to provide a consistent and supportive experience as you move towards independence. This includes dedicated support workers who will work with you as you progress from supported accommodation into your own tenancy and independent living.

The aim is to make sure support is tailored to your individual strengths, needs and goals, giving you the confidence, skills and support you need to achieve your ambitions and thrive in adulthood.

If you are in foster care, we will work with you and your fostering household before you turn 18 to plan whether you should “stay put.”

A staying put arrangement means that you can remain with your foster carer for longer, even up to the age of 21. This will give you longer to plan your next steps for independence.

Your social worker and PA will work with you and your foster carers before you turn 18 to see if this is the right option for you.

Staying Close is a national programme designed to provide additional support for care experienced young people as they move towards greater independence. It offers a package of accommodation and support and has been developed to provide a comparable offer to Staying Put for young people who wish to remain living with their foster carers after the age of 18.

The aim of Staying Close is to help you build the confidence, skills and resilience needed for adult life, while ensuring that you continue to have practical and emotional support available when you need it. We want all care experienced young people to be supported to make informed choices about their future and have the opportunities they need to achieve their goals and aspirations.

In Devon, our Staying Close offer currently provides accommodation and support opportunities in Exeter, Mid Devon and East Devon. As part of the programme, you will be supported by a dedicated Personal Adviser who will help you develop the skills and confidence needed for independent living, while also providing reassurance and practical support when challenges arise. The programme is designed to offer both independence and a safety net, helping you successfully navigate the transition into adulthood.

If Staying Close is right for you, we will work alongside you to develop a personalised independence plan. This plan will identify your strengths, goals and the areas where you may benefit from additional support as you prepare for independent living.

Together, we will focus on areas including:

• Maintaining stable accommodation
• Developing independent living skills
• Building and maintaining positive relationships and support networks
• Supporting your health and wellbeing
• Accessing education, training and employment opportunities

Access to Staying Close is based on an assessment of your individual needs and circumstances. Your Personal Adviser and wider support network will work with you to explore whether the programme is the right option for you and support you to access it where appropriate and subject to availability.

If Staying Close is not available, we will work with you to explore alternative accommodation and relationship-based support, using the My Future, My Way framework.

Through our partnerships we work with lots of different supported accommodation providers. In this type of accommodation, you will have your own room or studio, sometimes ensuite, but it will also have some spaces such as a kitchen or lounge which are shared.

In these homes there are different levels of support staff who will spend time with you helping you prepare to live independently and work towards achieving your own tenancy in the future.

Your social worker and PA will help you to understand the different options available for supported accommodation and work with you and the provider so that you understand the house rules and then plan the time that you are in supported accommodation if this is the right housing option for you.

At the age of 18, you may decide to return to family, even if this is something that we couldn’t agree was the right plan for you before you turned 18. This will of course be your choice as a young adult. If this is a decision that you make, we will work with you and your family to make this as positive an experience as possible, even if our advice is that you should seek alternative accommodation. Remember, our job is to advise you and do our best to help you be safe and secure. If you return to family and things do not work out, then we will help you look for other options.

Although you have turned 18 and may want to live independently, finding and keeping a tenancy on your own and living in your own accommodation is not always easy.

We will work with you to help prepare you to be “tenancy ready,” and to hold a tenancy, and when you achieve your own tenancy, we will work with you to help you to maintain this with other relevant professions as a “team around the tenancy.” We will not recommend that you have your own tenancy until we think that you are ready to hold one, because losing a tenancy can have a long-term impact on your housing options.

Having your own tenancy can be complicated as there are lot of things that you will need to consider, like paying bills on time, agreeing to, and living by the rules of landlords, budgeting, keeping your home safe from people who may want to exploit you. Your PA will work with you on all these things so don’t worry but will also want to be sure that you are ready to live independently before you do.

As part of your Pathway Plan from the age of 16, you will be supported to complete an Independence Development Tracker. This will help identify the things that you are already confident and skilled at, as well as any areas where you may need additional support, so that you are fully prepared for adult life. Your Independence Development Tracker will be reviewed regularly as part of your Pathway Plan and updated as your goals, ambitions and circumstances change.

How will we work with you to become “tenancy ready?"

We will help you develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to successfully manage and maintain your own home. This includes working alongside supported accommodation providers and other professionals who can help you prepare for independent living. We will offer you the AQA Moving On Programme, which supports young people to develop the practical skills and understanding needed to manage their own tenancy successfully. You can find out more about this through the My Life, My Future section of this Local Offer.

Managing money is an important part of living independently, so we will provide support to help you develop your financial knowledge and confidence. This support can be tailored to meet your individual needs and may include opportunities to complete AQA-accredited learning in:

• Budgeting skills
• Banking
• Debt prevention
• Understanding credit scores
• Saving money
• Managing tenancy finances
• Maximising benefit entitlement

We also work with colleagues from NatWest Bank, who offer ‘Financial Building Blocks’ workshops designed to help care experienced young people build their knowledge and understanding of banking and money management. If you would like to take part in one of these sessions, please speak with your PA, who can arrange a place for you on the next available workshop.

We understand that people learn in different ways, so support is available through one-to-one sessions, group programmes and online resources. If attending a group session is not right for you, your PA can help you access alternative learning opportunities and resources that better meet your needs and preferences.

If you decide that you want to register for a social housing tenancy, we will support you to do this. In Devon this is through Devon Home Choice, who access all the social tenancies in Devon. We can help you to register on Devon Home Choice just before your 18th birthday. This does not mean that you will automatically get a tenancy in social housing. Housing services across Devon will work with you and your PA to help you to evidence that you are tenancy ready, and at that point will provide you with what we call an increased banding to enable you bid on properties that may be of interest to you.

When you are ready to move on from supported accommodation, foster care, Staying Close or social housing, there are a range of housing options available to you. Social housing is not the only route into independent living, and we will support you to explore the option that best meets your needs, circumstances and future aspirations.

Whether you are interested in renting privately or looking towards home ownership in the future, your PA can provide advice, information and practical support to help you understand the options available both locally and nationally.

Private Rented Accommodation

Renting privately can offer greater flexibility and choice over the type of property you live in and where you choose to live. If private renting is the right option for you, we can provide support to help make this more accessible, including:

• Rent deposit schemes
• Rent in advance schemes
• Access to a Local Authority Guarantor Scheme where appropriate
• Support to access any enhanced housing benefit entitlements available to care experienced young people
• Floating tenancy support, tailored to your individual needs, to help you settle into and sustain your tenancy successfully

Your PA will work with you to understand the responsibilities of a private tenancy and help you access any support available to make your move into independent accommodation successful.

Home Ownership

Owning your own home may feel like a long-term goal, but it is something that can be achievable. We want care experienced young people to have the same opportunities as their peers, and we can provide information, financial guidance and support to help you explore home ownership options when the time is right.

There are a number of schemes that may help make home ownership more affordable:

Shared Ownership
Shared Ownership allows you to purchase a share of a property, usually between 10% and 75% of its value, through a housing association. You then pay a reduced rent on the remaining share. This can provide a more affordable route into home ownership and allows you to increase your share over time if your circumstances allow.

Right to Buy
If you live in eligible social housing, you may be able to build up the Right to Buy your home at a discounted rate, subject to meeting the relevant legal requirements. This can provide an opportunity to purchase your home in the future at a reduced cost.

Lifetime ISA
Your PA can support you to open a Lifetime ISA (Individual Savings Account). This Government-backed savings scheme allows you to save up to £4,000 each year, with the Government adding a 25% bonus of up to £1,000 annually. The savings can be used towards the purchase of your first home or for your retirement. You can find out more through the Lifetime ISA section on GOV.UK.

Further Information
If you are interested in exploring home ownership, your PA can help you understand the schemes that may be available to you and identify the option that best supports your future plans. Additional information about Government home ownership schemes, including Shared Ownership and the First Homes Scheme, can be found through the links provided below

• Lifetime ISA: Overview - GOV.UK
• Government Schemes for Buying a New Build Home in the UK (2026 Guide) | New-Builds
• First Homes scheme: first-time buyer's guide: Overview - GOV.UK

We want to work with you in a planned way to try and stop crisis from happening, keeping your accommodation settled, and ensuring that moves happen in a planned way. However, if for some reason you are suddenly faced with nowhere to stay, we will work with our housing colleagues to ensure that you have a bed to sleep in and a roof over your head whilst we plan together about what happens next to ensure that you have accommodation again.

We know that sometimes for some young people housing crises happen. We also recognise that this can be a frightening time creating anxiety about where you will stay. Your PA will support you with this if this happens.

If you are worried about your accommodation or think you may be at risk of homelessness, it is important that you seek support as soon as possible.

If you need emergency accommodation, contact your PA as soon as possible. They will provide advice, support and help you explore the options available.

• If you need help outside of office hours, you can contact the Emergency Duty Service on 0345 600 0388.
• You should also contact your local housing authority, who will assess your circumstances and work with you to identify the most appropriate housing options.
• If you are homeless or at immediate risk of homelessness, the housing authority has a legal duty to assess your situation and develop a plan with you to help resolve your housing needs.
• In an emergency, you may be offered temporary accommodation while longer-term housing is identified. This may include self-contained accommodation or supported accommodation, depending on your individual needs and circumstances.
• We do not believe that Bed and Breakfast accommodation is suitable for care experienced young people and it will only be used in exceptional circumstances where no other appropriate option is available.
• While you are living in temporary accommodation, your PA and Housing Adviser will continue to work alongside you to identify a longer-term housing solution.
• Where appropriate, we will support you to register with Devon Home Choice and access available housing options. In most circumstances, care experienced young people in Devon will be awarded Band B priority status, recognising their housing need.
• If you are worried about losing your accommodation, please speak to your PA as early as possible. Seeking support early often provides more opportunities to prevent homelessness and helps us work with you to find the right solution.

In Devon there are different options available depending on your and your family’s need. This can range from supported accommodation options, Parent Assessment homes, independent living and housing options or a bespoke package which include floating support, depending on your needs and circumstances. We will work with you and our housing departments to find you a stable home, before your baby arrives or should you need to alternative accommodation throughout your parenting journey.

We will work with you to understand your individual strengths, needs and aspirations, helping you find accommodation that is right for you as you move towards independence.

For some young people, this may include support from Adult Social Care. Where appropriate, a referral will be made to the Transitions Team before the age of 16 (wherever possible). This gives you the opportunity to build a relationship with new professionals and take part in a Care Act Assessment. This assessment helps identify any care, support and accommodation needs you may have as an adult and informs future planning.

We recognise that not all young people with disabilities will require support from Adult Social Care. Where this is not needed, your PA will continue to work with you, alongside housing providers and other relevant services, to make sure the support identified within your Pathway Plan is in place and that your accommodation meets your individual needs.

If you require adaptations to your home to support your independence, safety or accessibility, your PA will help you explore the options available and support you to make any necessary applications. We will work with you and relevant professionals to make sure your home enables you to live as independently and comfortably as possible.

If you are attending university, we will work with you to make sure you have somewhere safe and suitable to stay during university holidays.

We will help you find accommodation during holiday periods and will support the cost of this at local Housing Benefit rates. In some circumstances, you may be able to remain in your university accommodation during the summer break. Alternatively, arrangements may be made through Staying Put to return to your former foster carers during holiday periods.

We understand that everyone's circumstances are different, so your PA will work with you to identify the option that best meets your needs and help you plan ahead, ensuring you have the right accommodation and support throughout your time at university.

The wider offer is outlined within Talented me section.

We know that where you live can have a big impact on your education, employment, relationships and wellbeing. From September 2026, care experienced young people no longer need to prove a local connection to an area in order to apply for social housing.

This means that if there is an area where you want to live because it is close to family, friends, work, education or other support networks that are important to you, you may be able to apply for social housing there without needing to show that you have lived there previously.

We will work with you to explore the housing options available and help you identify the area that best meets your needs and future plans. Your PA and Housing Adviser can support you with housing applications, help you understand your options and advocate on your behalf where needed.

The aim of these changes is to help care experienced young people access safe and stable accommodation, strengthen support networks and reduce the risk of homelessness as they move towards independence.

If you would like to know more about how these changes could affect you, please speak with your PA.

Sadly, not everyone you meet will have good intentions. Sometimes people who want to harm, control or exploit others present themselves as friends, partners or people who care about you. This can make it difficult to recognise what is happening, especially if the relationship feels important to you.

We understand that experiences of abuse, exploitation and harm can be confusing, frightening and difficult to talk about. You may feel worried about being judged, not being believed, or getting someone into trouble. It is important to remember that abuse, exploitation and violence are never your fault, and you do not have to manage these situations on your own.

If something does not feel right, or you are worried about your own safety or the safety of someone else, please speak to your PA or another trusted adult. We will listen to you, take your concerns seriously, and work with you to understand what support feels right for you. You will be involved in decisions about your safety and support wherever possible.

If you need support to stay safe, we can help you explore a range of options, including:

• Supporting you to move to a different area if this will help keep you safe.
• Working with housing services and District Councils to identify suitable accommodation.
• Accessing refuge or other specialist safe accommodation where this is the best option for you.
• Developing a safety and support plan with you if remaining in your current home is the safest and most appropriate option.
• Helping you access practical, emotional and therapeutic support to aid your recovery and wellbeing.

Specialist Support Available

Devon Domestic Abuse Alliance (DDAA)
The Devon Domestic Abuse Alliance provides specialist support for people experiencing domestic abuse. Support includes:

• Advice and safety planning.
• Community-based support.
• Refuge and other safe accommodation.
• Support for families and children.
• Therapeutic support to help recovery from trauma.

Helpline: 0808 281 6161
Website: ddaa.org.uk

Devon Domestic Abuse Support Service
This service provides a single point of access for domestic abuse support across Devon and aims to reduce the need for people to repeatedly tell their story. Support includes:

• Telephone, text, email and online support.
• Specialist community support workers.
• Safe accommodation and resettlement support.
• Trauma-informed recovery programmes.
• Support for people affected by harmful behaviours in relationships.

NHS Domestic Abuse Support
The NHS can provide safeguarding support and information for both adults and children, including advice about recognising abuse, staying safe and accessing emergency help.
Helpline: 0345 155 1074

Additional Support Services

• North Devon Against Domestic Abuse (NDADA) - refuge and specialist support for women and children.
• SAFE (Stop Abuse For Everyone) - recovery and therapeutic support for people who have experienced abuse.
• Devon Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Service - specialist support for young people and adults aged 13 and over.
• More Positive Me - confidence-building, empowerment and recovery support.

National Support Organisations

• Women's Aid - support for women and children experiencing domestic abuse.
• ManKind Initiative - support for men who have experienced domestic abuse.
• Galop - support for LGBT+ people experiencing abuse or violence.
• Daisy Chain Project - access to free legal advice and support.

Emergency Help

If you are in immediate danger:

• Call 999
• If you cannot speak, dial 999 and press 55 when prompted. This is known as the Silent Solution and will let the operator know you need emergency assistance.

Remember: if you are worried about exploitation, domestic abuse, coercive control, violence, stalking or any relationship that does not feel safe, speak to your PA as soon as possible. We will listen, support you and work alongside you to help you stay safe.

Your accommodation provider will let your PA know if there are early signs that things may not be going well, such as missed rent payments, anti-social behaviour or difficulties following house rules. This helps us put support in place as early as possible.

If you are worried about your accommodation or tenancy, please tell your PA as soon as you can. The earlier we know about any concerns, the more support we can offer.

A specialist Young Person's Housing Adviser can work alongside your PA to provide advice, support and advocacy.

We will work with you and other professionals to develop a support plan to help prevent homelessness and maintain your accommodation.

Where appropriate, we will hold multi-agency meetings to make sure you have the right support from the people who can help.

If your tenancy cannot be sustained, we will advocate for you and support planned moves wherever possible, helping you move safely into alternative accommodation.

Remember: If you have any concerns about your accommodation, housing options or tenancy, talk to your PA as soon as possible. We are here to help and will work with you to find the right support at the earliest opportunity.

• Floating Support to help you settle into a tenancy and manage any tenancy-related issues.
• Moving On Programme to help you develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to maintain a successful tenancy.
• Financial support may be available where this could help you keep your accommodation. Alternative Payment Arrangements (APA) may be available, allowing rent payments to be paid directly to your landlord through Universal Credit where appropriate.
• Support with benefit claims, budgeting, money management and repayment plans if you have rent arrears.

We are currently updating our Joint Housing Protocol with housing partners across Devon to reflect changes in national guidance. Until the revised protocol is published, the current protocol can be accessed here.

The updated protocol will strengthen our commitment to preventing homelessness and ensuring care experienced young people receive the support they need to access and maintain suitable accommodation.

Key changes include:

• Changes to housing legislation mean that, from September 2026, care experienced young people no longer need to prove a local connection when applying for social housing. This can provide greater flexibility when deciding where you would like to live, including areas that offer important family, friendship, education, employment or support opportunities.
• From September 2026, if you become homeless, housing services will not refuse to support you because they believe you are responsible for losing your accommodation. This recognises that the journey into adulthood and independent living can sometimes be challenging and that care experienced young people may need additional support to achieve and maintain stable housing.
• This means that if your accommodation breaks down, Devon County Council and our District Council housing partners will focus on understanding what has happened, identifying the support you need and working with you to secure safe and suitable accommodation. The emphasis will be on finding solutions and providing support, rather than deciding whether you should have acted differently.
• We will continue to work closely with housing services across Devon to help prevent homelessness wherever possible. If you are at risk of losing your accommodation, or have already become homeless, we will work together to make sure you receive the advice, support and housing assistance you need to access and maintain a stable home.
• If you are worried about your accommodation or tenancy, it is important that you speak with your PA as early as possible. The earlier we know about any concerns, the more opportunities there may be to work with you and our housing partners to prevent homelessness and help you remain safely housed.

If your wish is to have a tenancy with a private landlord, there will often be a need for a guarantor. This is someone who the landlord would turn to if there was a problem with your rent.

Devon County Council operates a Guarantor Scheme for our care experienced young people to help them obtain private tenancies. This can help private landlords feel confident to offer tenancies to our young people.

Your PA will need to help you to apply for this, you will need to demonstrate that you are ready to hold a tenancy and that you have sufficient income to cover both your rent and living costs. Your PA will work with you to help determine this and where appropriate help you apply for the guarantor scheme.

District Councils usually operate deposit guarantee/rent in advance schemes if you are over 18 to secure accommodation in the private sector. Devon County Council will also provide this if it is not available from your District Council.

Moving into your own place can be costly! We provide you with an allowance to help you get on your way with what is needed to make your accommodation your home. If you left care after 1 April 2024, we will provide you with up to £3,000 as a setting up home allowance. If you left care before April 2024, you will get an allowance of £2,000. This is to help you to buy things that are needed for day-to-day living. Your PA will work with you to help you think about what essentials you should spend this on and help you to ensure that it is used to get what you need.

You can access up to £250 of this setting up home allowance if you move into supported accommodation. This is to ensure that you have the essential items that will help your move into this sort of accommodation.

Devon Care Leavers do not have to pay Council Tax until they reach the age of 25.

However, if you live in Devon you do have to register for Council Tax and then you will be supported to claim your exemption. Your PA will work with you to achieve this so don’t worry.

If you live outside of Devon, then you will have to register for Council Tax in the area that you live. Your PA will then help you to claim any local exemptions that you may be entitled to. Devon County Council will then pay any difference left on your council tax bill.

Please note this is an offer to you as a Care Leaver. If you live with someone who is not a care leaver, and they are responsible for council tax, then exemptions will only apply to your part of the council tax.

If you live independently and live within the areas served by either South West Water or Bournemouth Water, you can receive a maximum discount of 85% off your water bill up until your 21st birthday. To access the scheme, you must be solely named on your water bill and must complete a consent form. Please speak to you PA for full details about how to access the scheme.

If you are signed up to the scheme, your water company will contact you shortly before your 21st birthday to notify you that you are due to be removed from the care leaver care discount, but they will also promote other support available to you (depending on affordability).

We will work with you to explore any moving costs you may have and will contribute to the costs of one house move if needed.

If you live in supported accommodation, social housing or privately rented accommodation, your landlord or accommodation provider will explain what repairs and maintenance they are responsible for and what is expected of you as a tenant.

• They will tell you how to report any repairs or problems with your home.
• If you need support with any tenancy-related issue, your PA can provide advice and guidance.
• If you own your own home, your PA can help you identify reputable local services to support with repairs, maintenance and property upkeep.