Transform Lives: Become a Home-2-Home Host with St Basils
19 August 2024
St Basils, a leading charity dedicated to reducing youth homelessness, is calling on individuals with a spare room and a caring heart to join our Home-2-Home Supported Lodgings scheme.
This transformative program places young people aged 16-18 (occasionally older) who have experienced family breakdowns into the homes of compassionate Hosts or Host families.
Why Become a Host?
The impact of living with a Host can be life-changing for a young person, providing them with stability, security, and a supportive environment making it less likely they fall into homelessness again. In return, Hosts find the experience immensely rewarding, often forming lasting bonds and witnessing significant positive changes in the young person’s life.
Jonathan Crust, St Basils Home-2-Home and Supported Lodgings Manager, shares:
“We need Hosts across the whole of Birmingham, Worcestershire, Solihull, and Coventry. Supported Lodgings is a really great way for people who have a spare room and a caring heart to make a difference in the lives of young people. We are careful about who we place with Hosts as most of our Hosts are working, retired, and we also have Hosts with younger children. Being a Host should have minimal impact on people’s own lives, but they can make a huge impact on others.
Providing a safe and homely environment for a young person can be a rewarding experience. Many of our Hosts continue to remain in contact with young people after they have moved on and are living independently. St Basils helps to prepare people for the role, providing full training for Hosts, and young people are provided with support from staff whilst residing with them.”
Testimonial from Gerry, a Current Host:
“My experience as a Host has far exceeded my expectations. Initially, I was apprehensive about connecting with the young people and providing the support they needed, but the training and ongoing support from St Basils have been invaluable. Witnessing the young person’s growth and development has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve also enjoyed the mutual learning experience and gained new perspectives that have enriched my own life.
One young person I supported secured a place at a university in Liverpool. We worked on money management and life skills, which gave them the confidence to move forward. Being a Host has provided these young people with a sense of stability and security they may not have experienced before, and it’s been heartwarming to see their motivation and hope for the future increase. My advice for new Hosts is to approach this with an open heart and mind, be patient, and offer non-judgmental support. Even small acts of kindness can make a significant impact.”
Get Involved
To become a Host, no professional experience with young people is necessary. St Basils provides comprehensive training and ongoing support. Hosts receive £140 per week (or more) while a young person is placed with them.
If you have a spare room and a desire to help someone in need, please get in touch:
Email: host@stbasils.org.uk
Phone: 0121 772 9593
By opening up your home, you can bring hope and make a significant difference in a young person’s life.
For more information visit www.stbasils.org.uk.
