Last year over 500 young homeless people made their ‘home’ with us.
YMCA Walthamstow is a supported housing scheme where accommodation and support are provided as a package. Our scheme is designed to help residents develop in all aspects of life; mind, body and spirit, enabling them to live with us then move onto independent living and sustainment within their community.
YMCA Walthamstow has 325 units of supported accommodation. Our main building has 188 rooms.
The referral route
We accept self referrals and those from agencies and the local council to our main building.
Here are the requirements for referral to our Walthamstow supported accommodation.
Referral Type: Single Homeless
Funding Type: Funding Responsibility Not Agreed
All applicants being referred to YMCA Walthamstow must:
- Be aged 18 – 55
- Provide proof of immigration status relating to residency
- Provide ID to confirm identity (passport, birth certificate or Resident Permit)
- Provide proof of income (wage slips or benefit letter less than 3 months old)
- Pay two weeks deposit upon accepting the room at intake
- Have recourse to Public Funds
Priority will be given to applicants with a local connection and rough sleepers.
Please send ID, proof of income & proof of immigration status with the referral form.
The referral form must be completed in full, otherwise the application will not be accepted and will be sent back to the referral agency.
If you would like more information please contact applications@ymcaeastlondon.org.uk
We provide targeted and holistic support to single people aged 18 and above with housing and support needs, individuals who are homeless, vulnerable and/or at risk, people living with mental illness, learning disabilities or recovering from substance misuse or those who are fleeing domestic violence.
Upon being offered accommodation, each resident is assigned one of our Supported Housing Officers, who works with them on their individually tailored support plan, helping them into education, training and employment.
We also have a dedicated residents’ zone where residents can take part in a range of social activities, and we organise trips and events throughout the year.
Residents can also access support, advice and job opportunities via external services that we invite into our resident zone to support and work with our residents.
Last year, 134 residents were resettled into independent living, highlighting the benefits of the services and support we provide.
Accommodation :
YMCA Walthamstow also has:
- 30 self contained studios mYPads for people in education, apprenticeships or employment.
- 24 self contained flats at Brookscroft
- 50 Self contained flats with Clockworks
- One Rough Sleeper Project with 15 self contained flats
Every applicant will be subject to a Police National Computer (PNC) check.
Rent
Rent at YMCA Walthamstow is currently between £265.23 – £302.30 per week, dependent on unit of accommodation
Personal charges vary in each of our accommodation units and vary between £10.85 to £20.42 per week
30 unsupported mYPad accommodation is £126.33 per week
Please note that your personal charge element of the rent will depend on whether or not you are entitled to full Housing Benefit. If your Housing Benefit entitlement changes during your stay, your personal charge element will change as well. Rent is payable on a weekly / fortnightly basis with a fortnightly deposit on arrival.
Policies, rights and responsibilities
YMCA is committed to safeguarding and equal opportunities in all areas of its work and responsibilities. Thus, alcohol is not allowed in any of our communal arrears, our premises is a smoke free zone too including all rooms. YMCA will do everything that is reasonable and within its power to prevent the taking and supply of illegal drugs on its premises.
Our work during covid
When the Coronavirus pandemic began the Government announced its Everyone in scheme which asked local authorities to bring all known rough sleepers inside to keep them safe.
Here are some of the comments from homeless people we were able to help:
Karlina and Leon here at YMCA have helped me so much, they’ve helped me with food and such – if I have any problem while I’m here I can knock on the window and they’ll help me.
In future I’d like to find a job, perhaps something with my hands, and just keep busy. To anyone who finds themselves on the street, you can trust people like Karlina and Leon – they’ll help you. They’re very good at their job and they’re just very good people.
At the YMCA Walthamstow, we helped local partners to take 130 known rough sleepers in and worked hard to make sure that they did not have to return to the street.
