A CHARITY on a mission to break the cycle of youth homelessness is joining forces with private and social landlords to launch a new housing scheme for 16 to 25-year-olds.

Moving On received a £50,000 grant from the Northern Rock Foundation towards the project which aims to meet the shortage of safe and suitable housing for disadvantaged young people in County Durham.

The scheme, Moving On Housing, will see the charity act as a social lettings agency, taking on leases for private and social rental properties and then letting the houses to its clients.

Properties have already been secured in locations across the county, including Stanley, Newton Aycliffe, Ferryhill and Thornley, and it is hoped there will be 60 houses on the books by the end of next year.

Moving On will guarantee the rent to the landlords and provide tenancy training to help young people become good tenants.

Support workers will also help tenants set up utility bills, resolve benefit and welfare issues, manage a weekly budget and boost employability and other life skills.

Sue Ryland, manager of Moving On, said: “The age group we work with is very unpopular with private landlords, especially if the young person is on benefits.

“Most private landlords have a maximum of two or three properties and need the rental income to pay the mortgage. They don’t want to take the risk.

“We know the benefits system and we know how to navigate it. We will also guarantee the rent to the landlord regardless of what happens.”

Moving On believes the scheme could also help tackle the problem of empty rundown homes in the county, many of which belong to distant landlords.

Durham County Council offers interest free loans of up to £15,000 to private landlords to bring such properties back into use and Moving On could provide a guaranteed rental income to those with who take up the offer.

Established in 1998, Moving On works with young people within and outside the care system, including those run away from home.

The charity provides advice and guidance, life skills, counselling and access to accommodation through its new housing scheme and partnerships with social and private landlords.

This support continues once accommodation is found, allowing issues, such as family breakdown, offending, unemployment, drugs and alcohol abuse and mental health problems, to be identified and addressed.

For more information about Moving On Housing call 0191-3831559 or visit movingondurham.org.uk