Referral only from specific agencies - phone 0844 515 1430
for list of referral agencies
Open Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Practical resettlement support and advice for homeless and unsettled
families, single parents and pregnant women who are moving
into permanent accommodation via the local authority
Support includes a removal service, DIY skills and referrals
to other agencies, including access to child care
They provide advice and support for couples with
at least one child, or couples expecting a child
1b. Emergency
Caring at Christmas Bristol Nightstop
Emergency accommodation for men and women 16-25 on a
night by night basis in private homes provided by volunteer hosts.
Own room, food, washing facilities and breakfast.
Referral from The Hub, Connexions,
Priority Youth Housing (but it looks like PYH won't be referring
directly in the future - refer via Bristol Housing Support Register
from May 2009) or Wayahead.
Julian Trust Nightshelter
The only direct access accommodation in Bristol
Open 9:30 pm 5 nights a week (not Thursday or Sunday),
doors close before 11 pm
Men & women 18+
Free food for everyone, but accommodation for only 15 people,
first come first served
Toiletries and showers for people staying overnight
Night Centre
Not direct access: everyone must have a risk-assessment
completed before they are referred
Normally, Outreach
will do the risk-assessment and referral
In an emergency, Streetwise or One25 can assess and refer
Open every night, but closed two nights a month
Emergency Duty Team
If someone is extremely vulnerable, the Emergency Duty Team
can place them for one night 01454 615 165)
1c. Short Term
Bed and Breakfast is sometimes a possibility.
1d. Planned
There are various hostels in Bristol, access is through the
Assertive Outreach team.
Emmaus Bristol offer a long term home within a community.
Companions (the members of the community) come off benefits and work
for the community in recycling goods and furniture. For further
information, see Emmaus Bristol.
Missing Link provide mental health support and housing services for
women. For further information, see Missing Link Housing.
You can access through Outreach or apply direct - go to the Reception
Desk and ask for an application form
On acceptance, you normally go into Preparation
After reducing and stabilising you go into Detox
Detox lasts 10-12 days
After Detox you go into Primary Rehabilitation (about 4 months)
Nilaari. The Nilaari Agency is a community based drug treatment provider that
administers accessible high quality culturally appropriate services
to the BME communities.
Recovery Dynamics. Primary focus
is on recovery from alcohol addiction.
An in-depth study of the twelve-step recovery programme
Best undertaken in parallel with attendance at a twelve-step meeting
Runs as a 4 week or 26 day programme
Runs Monday-Friday in the Conference Room, Alma Church (Bethesda), on the
corner of St Johns Road and Alma Road (near Whiteladies Road)
Non-negotiable £60 enrolment fee, payable in advance
Participants must be a minimum of 14 days without drink and/or other drugs
3c. Physical Health
GP. You are likely to get the best care if you register with a GP.
Phone Avon Health Authority on 0117 900 2400 for details.
Homeless Health Service. This is based at the Compass Centre.
Hospital. The BRI has an Accident and Emergency unit.
The Harbour provide a free and professional counselling and psychotherapy
service for people affected by a physical life-threatening illness. For further
information, see The Harbour.
3d. Mental Health
Bristol Mental Health Network. Meet on a regular basis, usually at the
Vassall Centre. For more details, contact Katharine Gonzales on 0117 958 9345
or email events
at the Care Forum.
Missing Link provide mental health support and housing services for
women. For further information, see Missing Link Housing.
Network Counselling provide a counselling service, but there is a
small charge and usually a wait.
The Harbour provide a free and professional counselling and psychotherapy
service for people affected by a physical life-threatening illness. For further
information, see The Harbour.
3e. Domestic Abuse
There is a Domestic Abuse Forum for people engaged with this issue.
Next Link (part of Missing Link) provide domestic abuse services
for women and children. There is a confidential telephone helpline: 0845 458 2914.
3f. Training
Clean Slate
Provide contract work as a step forward from selling the Big Issue
There is a TREE (Def) worker
employed by Alabaré based at the Compass Centre.
The council publish a TREE Directory every few years.
The latest one was published in December 2008. To find it,
go to the 'Related Documents' section of the Homelessness and prevention page on the council web site.
3i. Work
The Meaningful Occupation Group are seeking to understand how
TREE activities affect benefits. It seems that short courses cause
few problems as long as they do not clash with signing on. See the
BAOH information below.
Opportunities in gardening, painting and decorating, window
cleaning and telemarketing.
The Big Issue
Earn a legitimate income through selling a weekly publication
You have to be homeless or vulnerably housed
Training provided
Need a card - price?
Buy the magazines at ? Each and sell them at the cover price of £1.25
Business Action on Homelessness
Three or four times a year BAOH run a two day 'Ready to Go' training programme
This is followed by a two week 'Ready for Work' work placement with mentoring
This is followed by assistance with job hunting
'Ready for Work' does not replace jobseekers activity, but
clients can use 'Ready for Work' activies in the job search book.
The situation with Incapacity Benefit and Income Support is less clear.
Clean Slate
Run a pre-employment 10 point training program
3 months, 1 day per week
For more information phone 07957 141 085 or email
3j. Charity Shops
Charity shops provide a cheap way of buying clothes and household goods.
They are also a good route into meaningful occupation and work: you can
volunteer in a charity shop and work your way up to employment far more
easily than in most businesses.