What is the Independent Living Programme?

Centrepoint has always been there for homeless young people and those at risk. We have already helped thousands on a journey to independence, but we are now launching our most ambitious and transformative programme to date: Independent Living, our solution to breaking the cycle of young homelessness for good.

Independent Living is a steep change in how we help young people on their journey through life. Over the next 10 years, we will transform the lives of thousands of young people who need a helping hand to take the important but challenging first step to full independence, by providing them a home to call their own.

Through the delivery of our Independent Living Programme - which links accommodation with jobs and rent with income - and by promoting it for other organisations to deliver, we make housing truly affordable for young people.

We aim to never charge a young person more than one-third of their salary as rent. This would typically mean a young person in London earning £18,000 per year would not pay more than £500 per month (according to HomeLet, the current average rent price in London in September 2019 was £1665).

We aim to deliver 300 homes in London and Greater Manchester by 2021.