Leaving care and becoming homeless
Care leavers with a local connection to Luton may be eligible for housing and financial assistance depending on their age and circumstances. You may be eligible for help with:
- rent deposit schemes
- eviction prevention
- Council Tax exemption
- access to the Care Leavers Grant
Your personal advisor provides support until age 25, including housing, life skills, education, and employment. You should speak to your advisor or social worker for housing advice as you approach 18 years old.
The Luton Care Leavers Charter sets out the help and support available for 16 to 25 year old care leavers in Luton.
Personal advisor
If you are homeless or at risk of homelessness you should immediately contact your allocated personal advisor at Luton Borough Council or the council that last looked after you.
Most care leavers in Luton should not need to approach a homeless service as this will be prevented by a planned move into independent living with your personal advisor from the Leaving Care Team. They will support you in developing life skills, accessing education, training or employment.
Wrap around support
As a care leaver you will receive wrap around support from your personal advisor up until the age of 25.
Wrap around support means your personal advisor will liaise with other council services (housing, transport, health) and partners (schools, colleges etc) on your behalf to ensure you can achieve your goals.
our personal advisor can also support you with things like:
- assistance with transportation if you are moving house
- sourcing furniture and white goods if you move into a property
- access to your Care Leavers Grant
- assistance with putting down a rent deposit via the council’s Rent Deposit Scheme
- assistance with rental payments (The Prevention Fund) if you are threatened with eviction
- your full exemption from Council Tax as a care leaver
Financial assistance
As a care leaver you are entitled to financial support and advice. This will differ per person, and it is therefore essential that you speak with your personal advisor to discuss what kind of support you might require.
A helpful summary of the financial assistance Luton Borough Council can provide to care leavers has been compiled on our website. You can access it here.
Accommodation
If you would like to explore your housing options as a care leaver in the first instance, speak to your personal advisor or social worker. They will be able to advise on which housing options might be appropriate when you turn 18 years old.
Care Leavers Local Offer
Our Local Offer has more information on support and also has contact details for the service.
Find information on the Care Leavers Local Offer.
You can also download the advice pack.