Housing & Support

Our Approach

Homelessness is a complex issue.  People find themselves homeless for a variety of reasons and the help they need to improve their situation is specific to each individual.  There is no quick fix.

Our strategy to combat local homelessness is to provide people with individually based support solutions that aim to keep them safe from homelessness over the long-term.  Providing a safe place to stay is just the beginning: it is personal support and guidance that we believe really changes lives.

Accommodation

We offer short-term supported housing for individual men and women between the ages of 18 and 65.  Across four projects we provide 114 beds, including 73 hostel rooms, 22 flats, seven shared flats (14 beds) and a five-bedroomed house.  Each project has a different level of support to match the needs of its residents.  Our hostel at 56 Westover Road is the central focus of our housing provision in the Bournemouth and Poole area.

All applications are considered individually.  All 73 hostel beds are funded by BCP,  and we can only accept referrals from the SP Hub to the hostel.  For details, please call 01202 451451. The quickest way to speak to a housing officer or support worker and get help is to email  bcphousingadvice@bcpcouncil.gov.uk

Alternatively, access to the same is available by telephone on 01202 123147.

This should be the first port of call for local people experiencing housing difficulties.

The 41 move-on flats can be applied for directly by completing a referral application.  Please note we currently have severely limited availability but are working to expand our provision.

If applicants are not working it is possible that housing benefit will cover most of the rent with a ‘top-up’ to be paid for those things that housing benefit does not cover, such as heating and meals from the restaurant.

If you have any questions about our supported housing, please contact us using the form below.

Personal Support and Guidance

Our aim is to work in a person centred, trauma informed and psychologically informed way to equip our residents with the skills and confidence they need to ‘move on’ to independent living and a positive long-term future.  To this end we provide a range of support measures as follows:

• Free wi-fi
• Opportunities to shape and influence service delivery
• Monitored facilities to ensure safety and security
• 24/7 support on-site, including drug and alcohol/addiction support on a one to one and workshop basis
• One-to-one sessions with a key worker
• Help to regain self-confidence and motivation
• Art and Crafts groups
• Chaplaincy support individually and in groups
• Peer support
• Peer led support groups at weekends
• Accredited Lifeskills coaching e.g. money management and healthy eating
• Benefits and budgeting advice
• Residential trips to our retreat centre in Studland with outdoor activities such as kayaking, high ropes
• Guest speakers, trips out to tourist attractions and educational facilities
• Quizzes, Movie nights and “Pamper” nights
• CV assistance and computer access for job searches
• Use of accredited Child Contact Centre
• Other Family and Relationships services
• Youth work opportunities (residents under 25)
• Accredited volunteering opportunities (AQA’s)
• Help registering with Doctor and Dentist and obtaining ID
• BACP Accredited confidential Counselling service
• Full engagement with statutory services to empower and enable our residents
• Residents’ lounge area with PCs for residents’ use
• Laundry facilities
• Assistance in securing a long-term housing solution

Find Help

Our main focus is on providing people with individually based support solutions that aim to keep them safe from homelessness over the long-term.

For anyone seeking accommodation we recommend they first contact BCP Council or visit our Find Help page for additional options.

For further information or a referral form for rooms at YMCA Bournemouth, please contact us here.