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At Doorstep we know that being homeless is not just about not having somewhere to live. It is just as important to be able to access support and to learn the skills we all need to survive in society and make a success of an independent tenancy.

DOORSTEP OF HULL is a registered charity providing accommodation for homeless young people and others. Our Mission is:

The care and support of people who are homeless and need help to live a settled life.

Doorstep believes that a home is not just a building. A home should be of a reasonable standard and must be a place where someone can conduct ALL the many aspects of living, in their own space, in security of tenure, and free from threat or harassment - physical or otherwise. Home should be a place that will contribute to their wellbeing and should satisfy their physical and emotional needs, at a price they can afford. Anyone lacking some or all of the above is, by our definition, HOMELESS.

The story does not end when a young person leaves one of our hostels. In fact, this is often just the beginning. This is the time when they will be faced with the first round of bills, building relationships with neighbours and so on, so we try to give follow-on support when needed. Ex-residents are visited regularly and have access to our resources until they feel confident enough to survive on their own.

We take referrals from any source.

If you have registered as homeless with the council, they may refer you to us, or you can apply yourself here.

If you are from an external agency and want to refer someone, you can do so here.

When we get a referral or direct application, we will see what vacancies we have which may suit you.

We will then arrange an interview with the Support Worker who manages the property where a vacancy is. In this interview we will find out what your needs are and if there are any issues that need to be addressed. We will decide then if Doorstep can help.

If we think we can help we will issue either a 6 month Licence or an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement. This would be your legal tenancy agreement and both can be renewed depending on your needs. The type of agreement that is offered depends on the accommodation we are looking to provide.

• Your Support Worker will help you to claim for benefits you may be entitled to.

• You will have access to Doorstep staff 24 hours a day. Your Support Worker will explain this to you when you move into the property.

• We will repair and maintain the property to a high standard. Emergency repairs will be carried out within 24 hours. Routine maintenance will normally be carried out within 28 days.

At Doorstep we recognise that people who come to live in our accommodation may have personal issues that they need to resolve such as:

• mental health issues

• learning difficulties

• experience of sexual, physical or emotional abuse

Your Support Worker will not enter into a counselling/therapeutic relationship with you but if you wish, will make a referral to a specialist agency, who will be able to offer professional help.

At Doorstep our goal is to help you move towards independent living, but we realise that this may take time.

It is not unusual for someone to move within Doorstep to more and more independent accommodation as they become better able to cope.

As with all things in life there are certain responsibilities that come with living in a Doorstep property. We will expect you to:

• treat the people and the property with care;

• co-operate with us to help make sure any benefits are paid;

• pay any charges on time (these vary according to the property and your circumstances);

• not interfere or cause any damage to fire detection or fire fighting equipment;

• be responsible for your visitors respecting these expectations.

We provide good quality, short term, furnished accommodation with support, for homeless people in Hull.

We accept referrals from any source and have expanded our remit to include single parents and their children, as well as homeless families. This was in response to the growing number of referrals we were receiving for these groups.

People become homeless for a multitude of reasons. They may have been physically or sexually abused and feel that they can no longer tolerate a life of torment. They may be the victims of a family breakdown after which there is nowhere for them to live. The stories relating to and reasons for their homelessness are varied and often horrifying.

Once 'on the street', then sleeping out means literally what it says. Whether it be a shop doorway, park bench, a derelict house or just walking round all night and day, the end result is the same. People are vulnerable to attack and abuse and are always at the mercy of the elements. Crime, prostitution and drug abuse are often the inevitable consequences in the search for an escape from a desperate situation.

This is the harsh reality of homelessness in Hull.

Doorstep can only help a percentage of those who are referred to us. We try to ensure that those who do get a place with us receive all the help, information and support available, to equip them to survive in their independent tenancies. We have realised that one of the main reasons for younger people failing in their independent tenancies is due to a lack of life skills that many of us may take for granted. Shopping, cooking, cleaning, paying bills, managing money and living in a community are all skills that would generally be learnt within the family environment. If, for whatever reason, this learning process has been disrupted, it is not surprising that young people need help with coping on their own. This is only one side of the support we offer. Help with sorting out benefits and linking-in with other agencies are all part of the work done.

We provide 24 hour cover, so if there is a problem, a worker is always available.

I've read this and would like to help. What can I do?

Not only do we need the help of the governments, councils and other large funding bodies but we also need the support of individuals such as you.

You may or may not already know much about the real facts of homelessness but now you have read this you may wish to do something about it.

As a registered charity we are always short of funds. We can and do get some public money but we have to raise thousands of pounds every year just to survive.

You may feel you could send us something or organise an event to raise money to help. Any amount, no matter how small, will be received with great thanks. Please get in touch.

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