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to people with life-disrupting problems |
Ladies' Night Shelter
Introduction
We believe that Bristol needs some emergency accommodation specifically dedicated to women. The previous service closed towards the end of 2011, so CCM decided to open an emergency shelter for women.
Initially, this will operate for two nights a week (Thursday and Sunday nights) so that the two nights the Julian Trust do not open are covered. We are currently raising funds to employ a worker, which will enable us to open for more nights. The plan is, with the support of volunteers, to open 7 nights a week.
Purpose
It will provide emergency shelter to women who would otherwise be sleeping on the streets that evening. It will give them a safe, secure and caring environment.
It is not a hostel and will not provide a long-term solution, but it will provide a place where these women can meet workers who can help them find a longer term solution for their problems, and where they can be signposted to other services.
As with all our activities, it will provide a context in which we can met and build a relationship with vulnerable people, and all the current CCM services and workers may be involved in helping the women who use the night shelter, as appropriate.
This project moves us in the direction of our long-term aim to extend the range of services offered to support homeless men and women with multiple and complex needs, so that they will be motivated to move on.
Scope
We will take any women who would otherwise be sleeping on the streets, or who would otherwise be required to go back to a significantly inappropriate environment - for example, back to an abusive relationship. The precise criteria will be for the duty manager on the night to determine; but in practice, if we have the space, we are unlikely to turn anybody away.
Women will be able to just turn up, but they may also be referred to us by any of the various projects and agencies we are already in contact with. Apart from the women who have been referred, access will be on a first-come, first served basis.
We will not be providing accommodation, a detox service, storage for goods and belongings, or a bed for any individual on a long term basis.
Evidence
The basic evidence of the need for this service comes from the work of the former night shelter which was run by Novas. There is also much anecdotal evidence, which has been accumulated by our own workers and by people from other projects.
More formally, Bristol University's 'School for Policy Studies' produced a report detailing the need in Bristol for a women's night shelter. Their full report can be found at:
www.bristol.ac.uk/sps/research/projects/completed/2010/rj5274/
One key point this report made was that: "Women who took part in a survey conducted by the researchers identified 'a safe place to stay' as their most immediate need, followed by 'help finding somewhere to live' and 'something to eat'." Our plan addresses all three of these key needs.
We also note from the report: "It needs to be recognised that the needs of homeless women differ from the needs of homeless men and that, if homeless women are not physically and emotionally safe, then they are vulnerable to further abuse, which compounds the problems they already face. The service provided a safety net where women could access a safe place to stay, food and a respite from the men in their lives." - Dr Emma Williamson.