Finding the right hostel for you

Where to look

Local housing advice centres usually have information about all hostels in their area and who they are willing to take. Details of how to contact housing advice agencies are usually available from council websites. To find the website address and contact details for the council in the area you are interested in moving to, click on www.oultwood.com/locagov/uk. If you have difficulty getting the contact details for the housing advice centre and you live in supported housing at the moment, ask your support worker or resettlement worker. They usually have access to the UK Advice Finder service which keeps details of advice agencies across the country.

If you are working or looking for work other hostels you can try can be found by clicking on the links below:

• www.london-hostels.co.uk
  (hostels for students and working people in London)
• www.ymca.org.uk/index2.htm
  (hostels UK wide)
• www.foyer.net/foyerdir/directory
  (hostels that combine housing with support for employment and training UK-wide)

If you live in London you can search for a hostel yourself by clicking on www.homelesslondon.org.uk. This website has details of services for homeless people across London, including hostels. You can search by area or can look at hostels across London. There are separate lists of short stay and longer stay hostels.

The website of Camden Council contains lists of hostels in Camden and elsewhere in London and includes some that cater for working people and students only. To search the lists click on www.camden.gov.uk/living/hha_fr.htm. From the first page click on Housing advice centres and then Hostels in the list at the right of the page it takes you to.

Your current landlord can help you search for a hostel place if they subscribe to Hostels Online.

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Questions to ask the hostel

• Who do they take and can you apply?
• What types of people are living there at the moment (will they be a similar age group to you, will you have anything in common with them)?
• What is the charge and what does it cover (does it cover things like meals and cleaning as well as room rent)?
• How much of the charge won't be eligible for housing benefit (if you claim)?
• Do they have a vacancy or how long can you expect to wait for one?
• How long could you stay?
• What facilities are there at the hostel (for instance are there kitchens or can you cook your own food)?
• Can you have a single room?
• What support do they offer (for instance help with getting a job)?
• Can they help you get accommodation when you are ready to leave?
• Do they have any special arrangements that mean you might be able to get a flat with a council or housing association when you leave?
• Are there are any house rules you need to know about (for instance when visitors are allowed)?

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Click on these links to reach different parts of the website:
Private renting - Council or housing association - Buying your own home
Hostels - Jobs with accommodation - Moving out of London
What's right for me? - Help - Contacts & info - Go back to the start