Centrepoint receives £3M donation from Julia and Hans Rausing to build homes for young homeless people in London and Manchester
The Independent Living Programme seeks to provide vulnerable 18-25-year-olds in or at risk of being homeless a home and a job or an apprenticeship.
Centrepoint will use the donation to ensure a young person is only charged one-third of their salary as rent, in a bid to tackle the shortage of quality affordable homes.
For example, this would mean a 20-year old young person in Manchester who earns a minimum wage of £6.56 per hour would only pay around £350 per month to live in a self-contained home.
The charity also intends to work with ethical employers to ensure young people are earning above minimum wage, meaning someone in London earning £18,000 per year would pay around £500 per month to live independently.
‘End youth homelessness for the coming generation’
Julia and Hans Rausing Trust said: “We are delighted to announce our support for Centrepoint and its Independent Living Programme.
“Centrepoint’s ambition to end youth homelessness for the coming generation is a formidable task, but having seen the impact they have made on the lives of so many already, I have no doubt they will realise their ambition.
“It is an honour to extend our support.”
Sally Orlopp, director of Centrepoint’s Independent Living Programme, said: “The difference this major donation will have on youth-homelessness in London and Greater Manchester is simply incalculable.
“It will go a long way in touching the lives of so many people and on behalf of Centrepoint I cannot emphasise our gratitude enough for what the Julia and Han Rausing Trust have enabled.”
The donation is the largest single donation Centrepoint has received in its 52-year history.
