Intervention: Bristol
Fund: Community Investment Fund
Date of Investment: July 2024
Impact Area: Housing and local facilities
Beneficiary Group: Homeless people
Ara is a UK charity working with people who are experiencing addiction and mental health issues in Bristol, the South West and Wales. Ara was formed in 1987 and has a long track record in providing structured treatment, counselling, housing support, education, training and employment guidance and other interventions to promote recovery and a healthier life. More recently, it has also developed an extensive and expanding service providing counselling and support for problem gamblers.
CIF funding will enable Ara Recovery for all to acquire 15 1-bed properties in a variety of locations in Bristol. The properties will be used to support the most vulnerable cohort of clients experiencing homelessness through the Housing First model of care.
Ara provides services to people who are experiencing addiction and mental health issues. While high support accommodation works for many individuals, there is a cohort of clients (Bristol’s Target Priority Group) that has repeat patterns of homelessness and failed placements in existing service provision. This service will for the first time in Ara’s history be delivered through the Housing First model of care, which has been shown to be a highly effective approach for working with this client group.
Ara supports most entrenched rough sleepers and repeat service users through this service. These clients will have multiple, complex, persistent, and interrelated health and/or social care needs. The properties are located in a variety of locations in Bristol to help meet the specific needs of each beneficiary.
The CIF-funding will provide 15 units of supported accommodation. As noted, the service targets people who have histories of entrenched or repeat rough sleeping for whom traditional homelessness approaches have not been successful. The caseload is significantly lower compared to other services in line with Housing First principles, which call for more committed and flexible support for clients.
The additional properties have much needed demand as is widely noted. The CIF loan is an integral part of the project alongside the Government’s SHAP (Single Homelessness Accommodation Project) capital grant allocation. Without both, Ara would be unable to pursue a property ownership and Housing First strategy. It would continue to be reliant on the PRS and other social landlords as its only source of housing provision with less intensive support.
Ara has good knowledge of the needs of its clients, with prior experience of managing properties and tenancies and very strong commissioner relationships.
