SUPPORTED HOUSING
The foundation every young person deserves to build their future on
Empathy Housing provides safe, high-quality supported accommodation for vulnerable young people aged 18–25 across London. By working closely with local authorities, support providers, and leaving care teams, we ensure each young person has a stable place to live and the right support around them to build a more independent future.
Our current provision is for young people aged 18 and over
The Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023 require Ofsted registration to accommodate looked-after children and care leavers aged 16–17. Empathy Housing currently focuses on 18+ provision and is working toward Ofsted registration to extend services to 16–17 year olds. For 16–17 year old referrals, please contact us — we can introduce placing authorities to registered providers within our network.
Built around the realities young people face
Our properties are matched to need — not a one-size-fits-all model. We support a wide range of presentations for 18+ young people, working with placing authorities and registered support providers to manage every placement appropriately.
Care Leavers (18+)
Young people leaving the care system who need a stable, supported base as they transition into independent adult life.
Young Adults in Transition (18+)
Young adults navigating complex life changes who require safe, stable, and appropriately supported accommodation.
Young Adults with SEMH Needs
Young adults with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs who benefit from psychologically informed housing and consistent support.
Young People Needing Safeguarding Support
Young people who may be vulnerable to unsafe environments and require secure accommodation, strong safeguarding, and tailored support.
Semi-Independent Living (18+)
Young adults ready for greater independence with floating support as they move into managed independent living.
Emergency Placements
Urgent referrals where speed matters. We maintain capacity for both planned and emergency placements, including out-of-hours availability.
Two complementary services, one shared goal
Supported Living
Our supported living properties are delivered within a Psychologically Informed Environment (PIE) framework. Housing and support are formally separate — Empathy Housing manages the accommodation; a registered support provider delivers the personalised care package, enabling Housing Benefit and care funding to be structured appropriately.
- Single occupancy and shared house formats
- Floating support and keyworker-based models
- Flexible support from 10 hours/week to 24/7 via support provider
- Trauma-informed housing management throughout
- Accommodation meeting local authority quality standards
- Regular quality of support reviews actively supported
- Bespoke packages for complex or high-risk presentations
Leaving Care Accommodation
Leaving care is not a moment — it’s a process. Young people who have grown up in the system face independence without the informal safety nets most adults rely on. Our leaving care accommodation is planned, supported, and never rushed. We work closely with leaving care teams, personal advisers, and social workers from the very first referral.
- Care leaver placements — 18 and over
- Self-contained and shared house formats
- Active liaison with personal advisers and social workers
- Out-of-borough placements considered
- Preparation for Independence programme access via partner providers
- Move-on planning embedded from day one
London-wide and Greater Manchester coverage
A structured journey — not just a tenancy
Every young person placed with Empathy Housing enters a clearly defined five-stage pathway. Each stage has defined goals, activities, and milestones — giving commissioners full visibility of progress and giving young people a clear direction of travel.
Stage One (Weeks 1–8): Safe & Settled
This initial stage focuses on stabilisation, ensuring the person feels safe, supported, and secure in their new environment. The priority is building trust and connecting them to the key services and individuals they will rely on. During this period, a full risk assessment is completed, a welcome pack is provided, GP registration is arranged, and a dedicated keyworker is allocated to support their journey.
Stage Two (Months 2–6): Building Foundations
As stability is established, the focus shifts to developing core life skills and encouraging independence. The person begins to take ownership of their living environment while actively engaging in Education, Training, or Employment (ETE) pathways. Key areas of development include budgeting, cooking, and personal hygiene, alongside regular support plan reviews to track progress and adjust support where needed.
Stage Three (Months 4–12): Growing Confidence
During this stage, the person builds confidence through increased self-management and responsibility. Support is gradually reduced as they take greater ownership of rent, daily routines, and relationships. Focus areas include rent management, strengthening community connections, and preparing for longer-term independence, supported by a structured six-month review.
Stage Four (Months 9–18): Near Independence
At this stage, the young person is largely self-managing, with support transitioning to a lighter-touch, floating model. Move-on planning becomes a priority, including identifying suitable long-term accommodation, completing tenancy applications, and preparing for transition. Ongoing collaboration with personal advisers and housing teams ensures a smooth and supported pathway forward.
Stage Five (Onward): Full Independence
The final stage marks the transition into full independence. The person moves into their own tenancy equipped with the skills, resilience, and support networks needed to sustain it long-term.
A final move-on report is completed, with the focus on achieving and maintaining a positive, stable outcome.
The Empathy Housing role in delivering outcomes
Delivering outcomes requires more than accommodation. It requires a housing partner who understands the sector, coordinates effectively, and holds itself to the same standards as the best support providers.
Commissioners often work with housing providers who simply lease properties. We do not work that way. Empathy Housing is an active partner in the placement, coordinating with support providers, flagging concerns early, maintaining the physical environment, and ensuring the housing side of the equation never becomes the limiting factor in a young person’s progress.
Our operations director has direct oversight of every placement. We maintain a live picture of each young person’s tenancy position, property condition, and support provider relationship, and we act on it when something is off. We know that a damp property, a delayed repair, or a poorly matched shared house can undo weeks of support work. Getting the housing right is not a passive function, it is an active contribution to the outcome.
How we manage quality across every placement
While Ofsted registration for 16–17 provision is in progress, Empathy Housing applies the same four-standard framework across all 18+ placements because good quality doesn’t start at inspection.
Leadership & Management
Every placing authority has a named point of contact, supported by senior operational oversight and clear escalation routes to ensure responsive and accountable service throughout each placement.
Protection
We prioritise safety across every placement through robust safeguarding procedures, DBS-checked staff, local risk assessments, and clear reporting processes that help keep young people secure and well supported.
Accommodation
Empathy Housing provides fully furnished homes that meet health and safety standards, are maintained by our in-house team, and are located close to transport, education, and community services.
Support
We begin each placement with a clear agreement and tailored approach. Working closely with support providers, we carry out regular reviews to help every young person progress with confidence and stability.