At Home in Guernsey is launching a Supported Lodgings scheme today, inviting people to turn their spare room into a lifeline for someone.
The scheme, inspired by the UK’s Housing Justice project, involves renting out underused rooms to lodgers – providing a safe, stable, and supportive temporary home for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of it.
‘Although we can provide emotional and practical support, we realised early on that we wanted to be part of the solution in terms of finding that physical home as well,’ said Charlie Cox, CEO of At Home in Guernsey.
‘Being in somebody’s home provides a lot more dignity and respect and gives people that chance to move forward and see a brighter future, rather than being in a B&B, sofa-surfing, or lots of the other situations we know people are currently in.
‘We’re really excited and think it’s perfect for Guernsey. There are lots of people with spare rooms and we know with the cost-of-living increase that actually a bit of extra rental income will be really welcomed by lots of local households. We’ve already had about four or five people show interest.’
Unlike conventional hosting, resident landlords under this scheme could receive up to £10,000 tax-free rental income each year from taking in a lodger.
Ms Cox said the scheme was not like fostering – landlords are not expected to provide anything more than a room to rent.
‘We want it to be a mutually beneficial arrangement,’ she said.
‘The lodger will be working and living completely independently. We know from experience in the UK that reduction in isolation and engagement in the wider community often builds from this – but there is no expectation of that.
‘People could go and rent their room privately, but I’m hopeful that people will choose to do it through us – that the compassionate side of it is as important as the financial side.’
Ms Cox said that launching the scheme through the local charity enables it to have personal control.
It will get to know both the landlords and the lodgers, and make appropriate matches. She said each party would have the chance to meet virtually, and again in person before making their decision. Either party can change their minds at any time.
Through a gradual introduction – where household rules, boundaries and dynamics are set out – the charity aims to ensure a smooth transition.
‘The lodgers will be really low risk,’ she said. ‘They are people who have just fallen on difficult times.
‘The scheme isn’t for people who need lots of additional support or who’ve done awful things. We want to make that clear, because there is a stereotype of homelessness that is still a barrier for people. We’ll have a contingency plan if there’s a crisis, but – touch wood – we’ll have intervened long before that stage.’
Ms Cox estimates that the charity would accept a maximum of about 15 resident landlords to begin with.
‘We’re still a tiny charity and really want to take our time to get it right,’ said Ms Cox.
‘We just want to make sure that we can provide the very best support, and that every match we make is a really positive one.’
Anyone interested in learning more can attend an informal session hosted by the charity on Saturday 13 December at Specsavers, La Villiaze from 10.30am to 11:30 am. For more information and to register, email: info@athome.gg.
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