Open your spare room and change a life. By becoming a Supported Lodgings Host, you’ll give a young person aged 16–21 a safe home and the encouragement to thrive. With Step by Step’s training, allowance and 24/7 support, you’ll never be on your own.
Enquire Today“It has been an interesting experience meeting young people of different backgrounds. We have had support and training along the way from Step by Step and have found it very rewarding.
Offering your spare room is more than just providing a bed. It is opening your home, giving guidance, and offering encouragement to a young person who needs stability. For a young person at risk of homelessness, a safe home can be the difference between struggling alone and building a brighter future.
At Step by Step, we believe every host is a hero. By opening your spare room, you can help a young person find their feet, continue their education, or take their first steps into work and independence.
Supported Lodgings is a service for young people aged 16–21 who cannot live at home and need somewhere safe to stay. As a host, you provide a young person with their own room and, just as importantly, with the support and encouragement of a trusted adult.
Hosts are not left to do this alone. Step by Step is with you every step of the way — offering training, ongoing support, and an allowance to help with costs.
Becoming a host is a partnership. We provide:
Training before a young person moves in
Regular contact and 24/7 support
A financial allowance to cover household costs
A community of other hosts to connect with
You will have a dedicated Placement Co-ordinator and access to our team whenever you need advice or reassurance.
Every young person we support has their own story. Behind every story in Supported Lodgings is a host who cared.
“Having someone believe in me made all the difference. My host gave me the stability I needed to go back to college and feel like I belonged again.” – Young person supported by Step by Step
You can read more from our host and carer stories [link to module or popout]. These real-life experiences show the impact of offering your spare room.
Becoming a host is straightforward and we will guide you through each step:
Enquire today – complete the simple form to let us know you are interested.
Meet with us – we will visit you at home, explain what to expect, and answer your questions.
Training and checks – we provide full training and carry out safeguarding checks.
Matching – we carefully match you with a young person, taking into account both your needs and theirs.
Ongoing support – once you welcome a young person into your home, we stay in regular contact to support you both.
Open your spare room to a young person and change a life.
There’s no commitment at this stage — just a chance to ask questions and find out more.
Not ready to enquire yet? Download our free guide for everything you need to know
No. We provide all the training you need and ongoing support throughout your journey. What matters most is the kind of person you are, not what you have done before. Our hosts come from all walks of life. Some have raised children of their own, others have not. Some work full-time, others are retired. What unites them is the willingness to offer a safe home, encouragement, and belief in a young person. If you can provide that, you could make a real difference.
That’s fine. Many of our hosts work. What matters most is providing a safe, stable, and supportive home.
Yes. You will always have full say over who lives in your home. We take great care in matching, considering your lifestyle, preferences, and the needs of the young person. Once we believe there is a potential match, we will arrange for you to meet the young person so you can see how you both get on. Only if you both agree does the placement go ahead. We know that great things can be achieved with the right match, which is why we are so careful at this stage.
You will receive two types of financial support. Firstly, you receive rent for the room, which is based on the Local Housing Benefit rate for a room in a shared house. Secondly, you receive a small financial contribution to recognise the support you are providing as a host. The exact amounts differ depending on the local area, so the best way to find out more is to reach out and enquire. We can then let you know the rates for your area and talk you through what to expect.
You will have access to a dedicated coordinator and 24/7 support, so you are never on your own.
Open your spare room to a young person and change a life.
There’s no commitment at this stage — just a chance to ask questions and find out more.
Not ready to enquire yet? Download our free guide for everything you need to know
