LH announced that it will implement the ‘Youth + Start Housing Subscription Savings Program’ to support the payment of comprehensive housing subscription savings for Woori Bank, the Korean Red Cross, and young people preparing for self-reliance.
On December 9, the three institutions announced that they had signed a business agreement for housing independence support for young people preparing for self-reliance at the LH Seoul Regional Headquarters in the presence of LH President Lee Han-joon, Woori Bank President Lee Won-deok, and Korean Red Cross Chairman Shin Hee-young.
This project is designed not only to directly provide residential space such as rental housing, but also to help young people preparing for self-reliance to build a foundation for self-reliance by subscribing to a comprehensive housing subscription savings account and supporting the payment of savings.
LH and Woori Bank support 1,000 self-reliance preparations within 5 years of leaving child protection facilities every year, with a total savings of 480,000 won for 2 years, 20,000 won per person per month. The Korean Red Cross is in charge of recruitment and selection of beneficiaries, and management of the comprehensive housing subscription savings account.
In addition, the three organizations plan to provide education on the importance of paying and maintaining comprehensive housing subscription savings so that savings can be made continuously even following the payment support ends. The public notice for target applicants will be issued during this month, and the Youth + Start housing subscription savings program will be launched in earnest from next year.
LH commissions ‘LH Ustart Supporters’ to actively promote this project to young people preparing for self-reliance. Supporters, as youth preparing for self-reliance, will take on the role of mentors for young people preparing for self-reliance by making use of their experiences following leaving the facility along with the project ambassador.
Park OO, who was appointed as LH U-Start supporters, said, “I am grateful to LH, Woori Bank, and the Korean Red Cross for being the cornerstones needed to prepare a stable housing.” ”he said.
LH provides various types of rental housing for young people preparing for self-reliance, and is also promoting a housing support project to help young people preparing for self-reliance, such as housing benefit mediation.
The rental housing provided to young people preparing for self-reliance has a deposit of 1 million won, and the rent varies from 30 to 80% of the market price, depending on the type of housing. Construction rental housing, such as national and happy housing, is always accepted and supplied through the Child Rights Guarantee Agency, and purchase and rental housing are accepted at any time throughout the year by holding a tenant recruitment notice at the beginning of the year. In November, the first move-in of the self-reliant support housing for young people preparing for self-reliance, located in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, began.
In addition, when moving in, furniture and interior support are provided, housing allowances are arranged, and housing counseling is provided through the U-Start Counseling Center (Tel: 1670-2288), a call center dedicated to young people preparing for self-reliance.
In November, the ‘U-Start 2.0 Comprehensive Support Plan’ was established to expand support such as system improvement and customized information provision, and to provide step-by-step support programs such as before and following moving into rental housing and living crisis.
Lee Han-joon, president of LH, said, “I expect this project will be of great help in helping young people preparing for self-reliance prepare a foundation for future housing independence.” said.