If you are not ready or do not want to have your own tenancy, we will help you find a semi-independent option.

These options can continue until you are ready to move to independent housing and/or until you are 21 years old (in some circumstances it can be longer).

Staying put offer

A staying put arrangement is an agreement between you, your foster carer and Cumberland which allows you to stay with them when you reach age 18 and cease to be cared for.

This can last until you are 21 years old or until the higher education being undertaken on your 21st birthday is completed.

Supported lodgings offer

Cumberland Supported Lodgings Scheme (Homestays), provide opportunities for care experienced young people to live within family homes throughout the Cumberland area.

Supported accommodation

Supported accommodation or semi-independent accommodation provides an opportunity to live in a supportive setting which will help you to develop the life skills you need to manage independent living.

Once you are ready to move to independence, we will support you with social housing or accessing a property in the private sector.

Social housing

We will support you in accessing social housing. This is accommodation managed by a housing association.

Social housing is applied via the Choice Based Lettings system. Registration is from age 16 and you can access this after the age of 18 and up to 21 or 25 years.

All care experienced young people, up to the age of 25, are a priority needs group for social housing. If you are living outside of Cumberland, your personal adviser will support you to access or apply for local options.

Private sector

If social housing is not available or suitable, we will support you to access private landlord accommodation.

We will help with your deposit costs and rent in advance costs. In some circumstances, we can act as a guarantor for you (subject to clarifying any liability issues for you and the council).

Council Tax

All care experienced young people who are the responsibility of Cumberland Council (former relevant care leavers) and living in Cumberland will receive a 100% discount on their Council Tax bill between the ages of 18 to 25 years old.

The discount will be applied after any other discounts such as:

• sole occupier discount
• Council Tax reduction

If you are living with someone else (shared liability) and you both need to pay, the discount will cover the share that the care experienced young person is responsible for.

If you are a Cumberland care experienced young person living outside of Cumberland, your Council Tax liability (after helping to apply for any Council Tax support) will be paid for you until your 25th birthday. Your personal adviser will support you with this.

Setting up home allowance

We will provide practical and financial support with moving into and furnishing your new home.

The setting up home allowance of up to £3,499.50 (2024-2025) in total, can be used to furnish and set up your first property, up to the age of 25.

It includes:

• content insurance for first year of independent living
• your first TV licence
• support with fitting your cooker
• support with removal costs

Winter heating allowance

In the first year of living independent, we will provide a winter heating allowance of £30.00 per month for 6 months. This will be available from 1 October to 31 March.

Higher education accommodation (holiday periods)

We will help find accommodation during the holiday periods for care experienced young people who are in higher education.

Housing crisis

We will support you if you have a housing crisis, including help if you are threatened with losing or do lose a tenancy.