Government introduces new property program to aid people struggling with substance abuse issues
The city of Bristol has seen the launch of a new support service aimed at helping those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and are also battling addiction. The Specialist Housing Support Service, named Under One Roof, has been launched by the charity ARA, Recovery for All.
Robbie Thornhill, the Director of Recovery and Resettlement at ARA, explained that Under One Roof aims to tackle the barriers faced by people who are sleeping rough or at risk of homelessness, and help them sustain a property tenancy. The service is particularly focused on people struggling with alcohol and/or drug abuse.
The new scheme, funded until September 2024, will involve collaboration between charities, hospitals, prisons, and the council, all working together to find and keep homes for vulnerable people and integrate them into the local community.
The current cost-of-living crisis is making it difficult to source affordable homes for the service, as affordable homes are hard to come by. Nationally, one in six people who are in drug and alcohol recovery have an issue with housing.
ARA, Recovery for All, was formed in 1987 and has since helped over 40,000 people with alcohol, drug, gambling, and mental health issues. The charity is estimated to have saved around £50m in costs to the community.
In February 2023, the government announced a £53m cash boost to be distributed amongst 28 local authorities in England to help improve housing support for drug and alcohol recovery. This boost could potentially aid the Under One Roof service in Bristol.
Interestingly, the Salvation Army has also launched a new monthly support session at the start of the month, known as Under One Roof, in Bristol city. The sessions aim to provide a wrap-around service focusing on recovery, mental health, and housing.
The associated image for this article was photographed by Reza Mehrad.
The search results do not provide information about a foundation in Bristol that launched a new service on Monday, March 13, 2023, to support people with housing problems and drug or alcohol abuse. However, with the launch of Under One Roof by ARA, Recovery for All, and the Salvation Army's new support session, it seems the city is taking significant strides towards addressing these issues.
