Supported Lodgings and Fostering Christmas Afternoon Tea, Basingstoke
3 December 2026
Host and Carer Stories
When Lynne saw a Step by Step post in her local Facebook group, the idea of hosting was already on her mind. Almost seven years later, she's still opening her home to young people, and now offers emergency beds: a room at short notice, for a short stay, while a longer-term plan is put in place.
“"It's nice to be able to shape part of who they are in the future, even if it's only in a small way."
The idea first came from a conversation at work. A young colleague, who happened to already be living in Supported Lodgings with Step by Step, mentioned how tiring her daily commute was, and Lynne offered her spare room. The young woman didn't want to leave the support she had, but it got Lynne thinking. When the Step by Step social media post appeared a few days later, she got in touch. She'd had a lodger before, but felt Step by Step offered more safety and security and found the process of becoming a host "actually quite simple."
For Lynne, hosting means cooking, being there, and offering advice and encouragement. Her first young person stayed for 12 months. Lynne helped her stay positive, keep up with family contact and secure job interviews, and today she lives independently in her own flat with her baby. The two of them still meet up every so often.
Emergency stays are shorter, but Lynne still comes to love the young people she hosts. A big part of the role, she says, is "trying to convince them that they're safe and don't have to run away." Seeing them realise that staying with her "wasn't so bad" is one of the highlights. One young woman always asks to be placed with Lynne whenever she needs an emergency bed.
Emergency hosting fits around Lynne's life, too. She's set a boundary that young people being placed with her must arrive after 5pm, giving her time to get things ready, and says it doesn't hugely impact her personal life.
Many young people stay in touch, with messages asking to pop round, phone calls, and one young woman who brought flowers to say thank you. "I leave it down to them if they want to stay in touch, because they do have to move on with their lives."
Lynne is keen to challenge the idea that young people facing homelessness are "all trouble". Whether they're leaving care or can't live with their family, they go from a secure environment to suddenly living life on their own. "They only behave in certain ways because of how they've been brought up or what they've been through."
She knows she's never doing it alone. "Step by Step are always there." If her placement coordinator isn't available, there's always someone else from the Supported Lodgings team she can call or message. And as for why Supported Lodgings matters? "Where else are young people meant to go?"
Her advice to anyone thinking about hosting? "Don't take it on like a job and think there's a wrong or right way to do it. And enjoy it. It can be really enjoyable, and the young people are great company if you're on your own."
If you have a spare room and want to help a young person take their next step, find out more today.
Join us in celebrating National Supported Lodgings Week and find out how you can make a difference. We'll be out in the community, sharing content and inviting you to take on our Stacked Against You Challenge.
