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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be homeless to come to Moving On?
No.You can be at risk of homelessness too – maybe your parents have asked you to leave home, you are leaving the care system, you have fallen behind with rent and your landlord is threatening to evict you.

What age is a child allowed to leave home?
A child can leave home without the permission of a parent or guardian once they reach the age of 18. However, parents and guardians have little recourse if a young person leaves home at 16 or 17. Parents may be able to bring wardship proceedings to ensure their child returns home, but the court is unlikely to force the young person to go home if they do not want to. If the young person is under 17, and there are concerns for their safety, the local authority could apply for a care order.  

If I find myself homeless or about to be and go to Durham Council how will they assess my housing need?
For emergency housing to be triggered the council will use the following checklist to assess your requirements:

  1. Eligibility
  2. Homeless
  3. Priority Need
  4. Whether Intentionally Homeless
  5. Local Connection
The Local Authority can trigger Temporary Accommodation duty if there is reason to believe a person may be homeless within 28 days pending assessment of:
  1. Homeless
  2. Priority Need
  3. Eligibility

Can you help me get a house quickly as I’ve got to get out of the house? 
We can't guarantee how long it will be take. If you are 16 or 17 you would be referred to Joint Protocol for 8 weeks if homeless or at risk of being homeless. If you are 18 or older, present as homeless to the council and get a homelessness/ housing options interview done; they would help you get accommodation as soon as possible. We would support you with completing housing application forms for suitable housing providers and look at the private sector for affordable accommodation.

 
Can you get me a flat in one specific area?
Only if properties become available in the area required. You would be advised that widening the area for accommodation means a property could be found quicker. Requests for specific areas would be put on all housing application forms.
   
What grants can I apply for?
Your worker would apply where appropriate for grants from Greggs Trust, Sherburn Trust, Durham County Foundation and would search for other suitable grants to match the client support needs.
  
How do I apply for a Community Care Grant?
You must contact DWP 0845 6088637 to request the form. You will be asked for National Insurance Number and the form will be sent to your home address.
  
Can you get in touch with the benefits department as my payments have been stopped?
Yes. But its better if you ring yourself with our support. We will advise you prior to making the call about what to say and to tell DWP advisor that your Moving On support worker will act on behalf of you by giving authority over the phone. DWP 08456088637
 
I’m in debt with a Hire Purchase Agreement, can you arrange a repayment plan? Yes. We must get full details of debt and a copy of the bill stating how much is owed and the customer/client no. We will then go over finances and check how much disposable income the client has to see how much he can afford to pay back on a weekly basis.Next we will contact customer services and explain clients present financial situation and send off an up to date financial statement so creditors can make a decision on how much they would accept on the re payment plan if agreeing to the request.
 
Will I have to pay anything to take part in the group activities?
No. You will not have to pay anything and if you attend group sessions you will be able to claim the cost of your bus fare back from Moving On if you do not have a bus pass.
  
Do I have to attend all of the Lifeskills sessions as I sometimes have other commitments?
No. You will be assessed as to which Lifeskills would suit your needs, so you do not need to attend the whole programme if this is not suitable. All sessions are flexible to accommodate your situation.

How can I get Help?
Call the office on 0191 3831559 Come to a drop in session any afternoon between 1pm and 4pm at Moving On, 2 Redhill Villas, Durham, DH1 4BA Email us – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  If you are an organisation you can fill in a referral form for a young person and refer them to us.

 

 
 

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