HOUSING

Any referrals Rainbow receives for any of its schemes or services are put forward to the Project’s Housing Sub-Committee. This committee consists of three people drawn from the Management Committee. They all have experience within their respective work places i.e. Social Services, Housing (City Council Homelessness Team) and the Youth Service, of the problems and issues around young people and homelessness. The Housing Sub-Committee meets every two weeks. The Project staff interview the young person and present the referrals to this committee. The decision to accept a young person rests with the committee who will, amongst other things, look at whether the applicant meets the referral criteria. Any decision is also based on the need of the applicant and their suitability for the service. Due consideration is given to those young people whose circumstances are a consequence of their ethnicity and culture. The Project accepts referrals from any source within the Southampton area, for example, Self referrals (but not for the floating support services), City Council, Social Services, Probation, Health Visitors or other voluntary and statutory agencies.

In the first instance referral agencies should contact the Project on the numbers below. Arrangements will then be made to interview the young person and explain to them what happens next i.e. the committee process. Once the committee has made its decision the young person will be notified either verbally or in writing. All young people have the right of appeal against a decision.

TELEPHONE NUMBERS AND FAX

023 80223525, 023 80232497 Fax: 023 80215339

Please note:
The Rainbow Project cannot provide emergency accommodation.

HOUSING INFORMATION

3 houses for young women - 13 bed spaces, 3 houses for young men - 11 bed spaces
1 house for young women who are either pregnant or have 1 baby/child - 5 bed spaces
All shared housing, temporary - 9 months to 1 year

8 self-contained flats in a purpose built block, 4 for single young women, 4 for young women who are either pregnant or have a child. Staff on site.

REFERRAL CRITERIA – SHARED HOUSING

The young person must be: 16 -25 years old
Homeless or living in a difficult situation
Have some connection with Southampton
In need of the support offered

Please note: Referrals to the Project’s accommodation for pregnant young women or lone mothers must first be assessed and accepted as homeless by Southampton City Council.

Young people aged under 18 also must first be assessed and accepted as
homeless by Southampton City Council.

REFERRAL CRITERIA – IRIS FLOATING SUPPORT

The young woman must be: 16 – 19 years old
Living, or seeking to live, in the Southampton area
Living independently in their own accommodation and in need of
support to maintain their tenancy or have a tenancy pending

REFERRAL CRITERIA – LIGHTHOUSE FLOATING SUPPORT

The young person must be: 16 – 25 years old
Living, or seeking to live, in the Southampton area
Living independently in their own accommodation and in need of
support to maintain their tenancy or have a tenancy pending

Please note: Referrals to the Project’s floating support services follow the same procedure