Becoming more independent can feel exciting but also a bit scary and that’s completely normal! Your family might worry about you leaving home, but they also want you to feel confident and able to manage on your own.

It is important to start thinking about where you’d like to live and what kind of support you might need. Independent living doesn’t always mean living alone, it can mean living with support or in shared housing. Building life skills like cooking, managing money, and traveling will help you feel more confident and capable.

Here are some helpful questions to think about:

• Have you and your family talked about what will happen when you feel ready to leave home?
  
• What kind of place would you like to live in?
  
• What skills do you already have, and what might you need to work on?
  
• What support do you think you might need to live independently?

It is a good idea to think about these questions with someone who knows and cares about you. Planning early will help you feel more prepared and confident about the future.

This section will provide you with further information on the different forms of housing options available.