Homeless charity appeals for help to offer vulnerable young people chance of own homes

Vulnerable young people across the North East speak out as they join a campaign to help the charity that saved them.

Centrepoint is calling on the public to enter an online vote which could secure £25,000 in funding to help vulnerable and homeless young people in the North East into their own homes.

The funding up for grabs is from the Masonic Charitable Foundation and the Sunderland based charity has been chosen to receive £4,000 in funding from the Foundation, but winning the online vote would secure an extra £25,000.

They hope the cash will be used to fund its Rent Deposit Guarantee Scheme, working with landlords to ensure that vulnerable and homeless young people have access to affordable accommodation in long-term tenancies. The project also supports young people with a savings scheme so that when they move home, they have enough money for a bond.

Jade, 22, received support to move house through the Rent Deposit Guarantee Scheme. Jade said:

“My partner had an accident and broke his pelvis. We were on a top floor flat, so I had to find a ground floor flat within a week. It was horrible, we had rats and a rat died in our bathroom and we couldn’t get it out. We needed to move but we just didn’t have the money for the deposit.

“We didn’t need loads of support, but what we got from Centrepoint was really helpful. Someone from the scheme came with us to sign the contract and sort everything out.”

John Miller, 22, also got help finding somewhere to live after experiencing homelessness. He said:

“They’ve helped me get a house where I can settle down, where I just have somewhere safe to be, especially when you’re out on the streets or even sofa surfing, you don’t feel that safe – when you have a house you feel probably the safest.

“I ended up getting depression; very seriously, I had thoughts about self-harm, and ultimately ending my life due to the circumstances. It’s not a very nice feeling.”

The top prize of £25,000 would fund a full time advice worker and held 40 young households into a tenancy. The second prize, £15,000 would secure a worker on a part-time basis.

Amy Gormanley, Senior Fundraising Officer at Centrepoint said:

“An extra £25,000 in funding for Centrepoint would mean that 40 more vulnerable and homeless people and their families would be able to move into secure and affordable accommodation.

“Every vote counts - so please spread the word to friends and family, and help give more young homeless people in the North East a future. ”

The public vote runs until July 31st. Anyone can cast a vote for Centrepoint using this link: [https://mcf.org.uk/region/durham/