house about me cards

Unit 1 (A)Should I stay or should I go?

Independence

''


Be nearer a placeof training

''


Be nearer aplace of work

''


Go to collegeor university

''


To join the forces

''


Leaving care

''


Fallen out withfamily

''


Thrown out byfamily

''


Live withsomeone else

''


Get married

''


Everyone elseis doing it

''


Domestic abuse

''


Want to dosomethingdifferent

''


Want to livesomewhere elsewhere there ismore going on

''


Family is movingaway and preferto remain inthe area

''


So many problemsin the family anddo not want tobe associatedwith them

''

Unit 1 (B)Should I stay or should I go?

AdvantagesLike it

''


AdvantagesLike the company

''


AdvantagesSafety

''


AdvantagesCheaper

''


AdvantagesHave own bedroom

''


AdvantagesHave ownbelongings

''


AdvantagesWarm andcomfortable

''


AdvantagesMeals are provided

''


AdvantagesHave a pet

''


AdvantagesNeed spaceto study

''


DisadvantagesTold what to do

''


DisadvantagesNot able to get on

with parentsand/or siblings

''


DisadvantagesHave to share a

bedroom

''


DisadvantagesComplaints from

neighbours

''


DisadvantagesUnable to seefriends as much

as want to

''


DisadvantagesNo privacy

''

Unit 1 (C)Should I stay or should I go?

Think about whyyou want toleave home

''


Talk things overwith family and

friends

''


Discuss optionswith someone

from an advisoryservice or agency

''


Work out howmuch rent youcan afford

''


Work out aweekly budget

''


Look around atsuitable places

to live

''


Check out busroutes andtimetables

''


Check out localnewspapers like

the “Falkirk Herald”or the

“Bo’ness Journal”

''


Begin to collectfurniture andhouseholdequipment

''


Pay deposit anda month’s rentin advance

''


Read electricityand gas metersin new home

''


Move in

''

''

Unit 3 (A)How do I choose the best option for me?

1. Owner occupiedThe person living in the accommodation is the owner. Thisnormally involves borrowing the money to buy the property froma bank or building society, called ‘taking out a mortgage’. Youhave to prove that you are able to pay back the loan and youwill need to pay some money of your own up front for a depositand legal fees – this is likely to be thousands of pounds. Moneythen has to be paid back to the bank or building society on amonthly basis. You are responsible for paying for all the repairsto the property. If you do not keep up the repayments you risklosing your house. Usually when you buy a place, it has nofurniture, so you will need extra money for that.

Credit: “I’m Offski” Edinburgh Scottish Council for single homeless, 2003”


2. Private RentedYou rent from a private landlord who could be an individual or acompany. As well as paying rent regularly you will usually have topay a deposit which should be returned to you unless there is anydamage.a. In a shared flat/house you share the accommodation and

housing costs with other people, which can help keep the pricedown. The place is usually furnished.

b. In a self contained flat/house you have the property to yourself(and partner or family if they live with you). The rent is usuallymuch higher than sharing. The place is often but not alwaysfurnished.

If you want to rent from private landlords but are unable to becauseyou don’t have money to pay a deposit or rent in advance you maybe able, in certain circumstances, to access a Rent DepositGuarantee Scheme. These give help when you need to pay a depositon a flat but can’t afford it. They guarantee the deposit to yourlandlord so you can move in. You then pay the deposit to the schemeor your landlord in instalments. Some rent deposit schemes needyou to be over 25. More information about the Falkirk Rent DepositGuarantee Scheme can be found in your Falkirk Directory.


''


3. Housing Association or Council HousingThe Council and housing associations provide rentedaccommodation at a much lower rent than the private sector.Places can include flats, houses or bedsits.

The accommodation is usually unfurnished. But sometimes itwill be furnished and the rent includes the “hire “ of thefurniture or else you buy the furniture gradually, like a form ofcredit agreement. You need to check with the Council, housingassociation or an advice centre about schemes like this.

You have to apply and housing is then allocated according toneed. There is likely to be a waiting list and the length of timeyou spend on the waiting list varies according to how much youare considered to be in need of the accommodation. It can takea number of years to get to the top of the waiting list.


''


4. Temporary HousingThe Council has a range of temporary housing to meet theneeds of people in different situations.Temporary housing is forpeople who are either:

being assessed as homeless or

have been assessed as homeless.

Most people will stay for a short time, while, with help, they sortout longer term accommodation.Temporary housing is providedin a number of fully furnished properties spread across theCouncil area. Sometimes supported accommodation and Bedand Breakfast establishments are also used. (see other sheetsfor more information)


''


5. Supported AccommodationThis is a place where there are people who can provide supportto help you cope with living independently. They may be in thehouse all the time or visit regularly. Often this kind ofaccommodation comes in the form of a shared house or flat, ora self-contained place close to others in a similar situation. InFalkirk this type of housng for the majority of young people incrisis is provided by YMCA at Seaforth Road, Langlees andLovetto Housing Association Garry Place, Grangemouth.


''


6. Bed and BreakfastThis type of accommodation is meant to be temporary. Usuallyyou have to leave the building during the day. There arenormally no kitchen facilities. Meals may be provided but thiscan prove expensive. Rooms are usually paid for on a nightlybasis which is normally much higher than the cost of averagerents.


''


7. Student Halls of ResidenceHalls of Residences house large numbers of people, usually insingle rooms with shared kitchen/bathroom facilities. Roomsare only rented to people studying at a particular college oruniversity. Rent is often only charged during term time andstudents are expected to move out during holidays. StudentHalls are often only available to people who come to study fromoutside the area.


''

''


8. FoyerA foyer provides accommodation for young people – normally ina single room with shared bathroom and kitchen facilities.People staying there are expected to develop plans relating totraining, education and employment and support is given to dothis. There is a limit to the length of stay, normally around twoyears, and help is given to find somewhere to move on to. Thistype of housing is not available in Falkirk.


''


9. Tied AccommodationAccommodation that comes with a job – for example farmworkers, army personnel, nurses, clergy or members of thepolice force. Leaving the job usually means leavingaccommodation.


house about me cards

Sports

placeof training

place of work