Find the answers to our most commonly asked questions below:
Our new development is a wonderful opportunity to bring regeneration to an abandoned warehouse and an area that is experiencing regular antisocial behaviour.
The location is an ideal one for young people, many of whom do not have their own transport but require access to the city centre for work and education. Currently, the high rental cost of property in Exeter would prevent them from living in such close proximity to the centre of Exeter and so providing low-cost accommodation in this area is one of the aims of the development.
The young people who will be moving into the area are at varying stages of life, but all of them are engaged in meaningful occupation; some are working, some are studying at college or university, and others are volunteering. They have all passed the high standards expected of them whilst living in previous accommodation at YMCA Exeter and have been accepted onto our tenancy.
Exeter has a challenging housing crisis. There is limited, affordable one-bed accommodation for local young people. Since August 2019, the housing need has increased by a further 24%, with over 350 local young people waiting for 1-bed accommodation.
Our vision is to support young people to become embedded in their communities. The reality is that many of our young people are ready to move on into independent living, but although they have meaningful occupations they are priced out of traditional rented housing. They have nowhere to go.
We’re tackling this problem by taking an abandoned warehouse in the city centre and converting it into 26 self-contained studio apartments. Each apartment will provide a young person with an affordable home, alongside regular YMCA Exeter activities and groups to be involved in. The project will also have dedicated housing and outreach staff.
The knock-on effect to young people moving on into independent accommodation is that it frees up valuable space in supported accommodation for young people, at risk of homelessness, accessing our services for the first time.