Supported Lodgings and Fostering Christmas Afternoon Tea, Basingstoke
3 December 2026
Host and Carer Stories
Sue became a Supported Lodgings host with Step by Step in January 2026. With her children grown up and moved on, she was living in an empty house and wanted to do something rewarding with her spare room. Today she shares her home with Linh* a young woman taking her first steps towards independence.
Sue first heard about Supported Lodgings through her daughter, a personal trainer, whose client was a host. Her daughter mentioned it to Sue as it sounded like something she’d enjoy. Sue already knew what it was like to open her home: she had previously hosted young people from the college where she worked, who were on a rugby programme and needed to live closer. She had also thought about taking in a lodger but decided that supporting a young person would be far more rewarding than renting a room to an adult.
Becoming a host involved online training, a visit from Step by Step to check her home was suitable, and DBS checks for Sue and for her own children, who visit often.
Her first placement was holiday cover, a three-week stay. “It was good as it gave me a taste of what it would be like at the beginning.” An emergency placement followed, which was meant to last one week and turned into three. A week later, Linh moved in and she still lives with Sue today.
For Sue, what a host does depends a lot on the age of the young person. Linh is a young adult, so Sue gives her plenty of independence. “I don’t want to tread on her toes.” They catch up every day, in person or by text when Sue has a long day at work, and they’ve spent plenty of time together: coffee trips, meals out and flower picking in the summer. When she’s in her room, Sue leaves her be. “That’s her safe space.”
Sue is always there to talk things through, from appointments to everyday worries, and she’s encouraged Linh to reconnect with old friends. “They need to grow their independence but with someone there as a helping hand when needed.”
““I trust her completely and know that if she needs something she’ll let me know.”
Sue is keen to challenge the assumption that young people are messy or untrustworthy. “She doesn’t make a mess and is considerate of the house.” The two of them simply get on. “She is very sweet and we get on well. The key is getting on with that person in your home.”
Hosting has made little difference to Sue’s own life. Her grandchildren still come round and she still visits friends and family. The only change is that she and Linh let each other know their plans. Sue says Step by Step have been great, and she hasn’t had any issues.
Her advice for anyone thinking about hosting? “You have to be patient and open-minded and have an affinity for young people.” She’s honest that it isn’t for someone who is stuck in their ways. “When you’ve lived on your own for a while, you get into a routine, and someone moving in does disrupt that. Even if, like in my case, the disruption has been minimal.”
For Sue, the reason the work matters is simple. “Where would these young people be without it? It’s so important for them to have stability in their lives and a safe place to go home to where someone is kind to them.”
*Name changed to respect privacy
If you have a spare room and want to help a young person find their feet, find out more:
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.
