Young people are able to get answers to all their housing questions online, thanks to a new website launched by The Gateshead Housing Company. The website at www.mypadgateshead.co.uk, contains a wealth of information to help 16 to 24 year olds make the big step of living in their own home, and was developed with the help of young people across the borough.

Sections on the site include leaving home, finances, looking to rent a
property, buying a home and much more. 

The site also features a glossary to help people understand some of the more
complicated areas, terms and jargon about housing.

The 'mypadgateshead' website follows the launch of Gateshead Council's
Children and Young People's Plan earlier this year, in which housing was
identified as a top ten priority for young people.

As a result, The Gateshead Housing Company worked with and involved young
people, and the organisations that support them, to develop a young persons'
housing plan and the new website.

The aim of the plan is to establish priorities, resources and partnerships
to improve housing opportunities and the availability of information for
young people in Gateshead and beyond.

The plan gives young people an idea about what the company will be doing to
improve services for them from 2006 to 2009.

Bill Fullen, Chief Executive of the company said: "The website provides
advice, information and guidance about housing services, rights,
responsibilities and provides further contacts where people can get further
advice and assistance from.

"We hope that many young people in Gateshead will find the site useful, and
that they will log on should they need any information and guidance on
housing issues. 

"The site does not just contain information about council housing, but also
provides links to other housing associations, private landlords and helpful
websites, as well as advice on leaving home and budgeting.

"The design, layout and wording of the website is also intended to appeal to
young people, with the bright colours, pictures and images that they asked
us to include."

Free copies of the Young Persons' Plan and summary are available online at
www.mypadgateshead.co.uk/pages/useful/index.html or by calling 0191 433 5381
or 0191 433 5382.