KeepItMovingCIC

Our Mission

Last year around 20,000 young people approached a local authority in London for housing support. Those identified as eligible and in priority need will be placed in high-cost, poor quality temporary or supported accommodation.

The UK is in the midst of a housing crisis, local authorities are being crippled by the increase of homelessness and the expense of temporary accommodation. Young people are often at the sharp edge of this crisis. For example, unless they have a specific exemption, under 35’s are only entitled to the shared accommodation rate of housing benefit.

In years past being young would constitute a vulnerability that would make a homeless person eligible for support. With the extreme pressure on local authorities the thresholds have been raised and many young people who may previously have been given support are no longer considered in “priority need” and therefore are not eligible for homeless support. Young people not considered in priority need face the challenge of navigating a very competitive private rented sector without support, with many finding themselves sofa surfing or rough sleeping.

We believe if we can identify those young people who are at risk of homelessness at an early stage, we can address the root causes and prevent them becoming homeless as young adults. Homeless services are not tailored to engage with young people and meet their specific needs. Conversely youth work services often lack the knowledge and skills to navigate housing systems.

By combining expertise in high-risk youth work with housing expertise Keep it Moving is pioneering an innovative, upstream solutions to the problem of youth homelessness.

About KeepItMovingCIC

Youth Homelessness Prevention Project

Our innovative youth homelessness prevention model aims to address the root causes of youth homelessness. We take a holistic approach combining

specialist housing support with systemic family therapy, mentoring and employability support.

By identifying young people at risk of homelessness at an early stage and providing targeted support to them and their families, we can reduce young people having to present at a council as homeless and help young people develop the skills to avoid repeat homelessness.

We also offer group training programs for care leavers and refugees who have to leave home office accomodation

Eligibility - 17-25, at risk of homelessness, have a connection to London Borough of Croydon

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Move On & Tenancy Sustainment Intervention

We offer a 6-month intervention of wraparound support including

· Employment support

· Budgeting & Income Maximisation

· Searching for PRS Accommodation

· Attending Viewings

· Safety Planning in the New Area

· Problem Resolution

· Resettlement

· Independent Living Skills

· Support with Flat Sharing

The aim is to move young people in exempt accommodation in to more affordable private rented accommodation that will enable them to work full time and move away from homelessness.

If you are a local authority and want to commission this work please contact - Danny@keepitmovingcic.org

Training & Consultancy

Alongside our direct work with Young People we also offer training to professionals who work with young people on Housing Legislation, Homelessness Advocacy and Tenancy Sustainment We can provide consultancy for Supported Housing Providers & Local Authorities who wish to improve their move on rate. Delivered by experienced youth work and housing professionals

Community Housing Advocacy

While our support can help individuals to progress from temporary accommodation, we recognise the current housing model is inherently flawed and exploitative. We want to empower young people to use

there lived experience to build solidarity and collaborate with those in similar situations to challenge the systems that oppress them. We reinvest our profits to bring about sustainable change in the housing sector