Supported Lodgings
What to do in an emergency
Imagine the scene: there's 30 minutes left of Friday Night Youth Group and one of your regulars introduces you to Paul, he's 17 and his parents have thrown him out. What are your options?
First point, safeguarding your home and family trumps rash and ill-thought-through acts of kindness.
It's Q&A time. You need as much factual information as possible.
Why can't they go home? Why are they mentioning it now? Have they run out of options after trying all day or are they simply escaping going home as they weren't supposed to be out anyway?
- Is it a Child Protection issue? If YES then contact The Emergency Duty Team of Social Services immediately! Surrey's team number is 01483 517898.
- Is it a family tension issue? If YES then are all bridges burnt completely?
- If NO, then is it simply a cooling off period that is needed? If YES do you have a couple in your church who is CRB cleared and able to take him in for the night? You would need their parent's permission on this. Often this offer of one nights stay is such a shock that parents and the young person reunite quickly. Always follow up though!! If they do stay then taking them back the next day and offering support to the family is key.
- If YES, then you must contact The Emergency Duty Team who under law has to prioritise 16-17 year olds. The reality maybe that they ask if you as a church can take them in. This is then not for 1 night but 3, until Monday when other options maybe available. My advice would be that on Monday you go with the young person to the council's housing dept and involve them, also go to Connexions and involve them. What you are doing here is putting the 3 largest agencies, (inc Social Services on the Friday Night) fully in the picture and asking them to resolve it. MAKE SURE YOU REMAIN IN THE PICTURE SUPPORTING THEM THROUGH THIS AND KEEPING THE AGENCIES TO TASK. If at any point you are contacting social services or housing always contact Shelter Housing Advise Helpline 0808 8004444, it's amazing that when Shelter are involved things move a bit quicker.
But what if a homeless person simply turn up at your door? Q&A time again.
- Are they are under 18?
- Contact Shelter Housing Advise Helpline 0808 8004444
- Then go through the above procedure by contacting The Emergency Duty Team
- Are they over 18?
- Contact Shelter Housing Advise Helpline 0808 8004444
- Is there a local night shelter they can access
- Pay for them as a church to go to a B&B and follow up the next day
- Or is this an opportunity for the church to take them in, they are an adult - but only after all the information you've acquired points to you not putting yourself or another in unnecessary risk
Useful numbers
Job Centre - Staines - 01784 231600
Job Centre - Weybridge - 01932 748000
Income Support New Claim Line - 0800 0556688
Elmbridge Borough Council Housing Advice - 01372 474597
Runnymede Borough Council Housing Advice - 01932 425832
Spelthorne Borough Council Housing Advice - 01784 446380
Nightshelters - Leatherhead 16yrs + - 01372 376508
Woking York Road 18yrs + - 01483 728739
Guildford 18yrs + - 01483 303646