Homeless charity offering new support in Bristol calls for volunteers
Housing Justice pairs people at risk of homelessness with volunteers who can help them stay off the streets
Homeless charity Housing Justice, which is bringing new support to Bristol through its Citadel programme, is looking for volunteers to help their efforts.
The charity, which supports people either experiencing or at risk of homelessness, has been running the programme across Wales since 2020, but is now expanding it into South-East London, Cornwall, Sheffield and Hastings as well as Bristol.
Citadel pairs those in need with volunteers who can offer one on one support with things like finding and sustaining a tenancy, decorating and furnishing a home and managing bills.
Figures on the scheme in Wales show, the charity says, that 90 per cent of those referred for support remained engaged in the project and 97 per cent sustained their tenancies, for at least 12 months after being referred.
George Butler, Head of Citadel England, said: "We are delighted to have finalised our staff team and are very much looking forward to working with local volunteers to help alleviate homelessness in Bristol.
“Our team in Wales has found volunteering with us to be a fun and fulfilling experience, with plenty of opportunity to socialise and make friends with like-minded people while changing people’s lives for the better."
Speaking to Hits Radio, George said that sadly, demand for such support in Bristol is "huge".
"We've seen rising amounts of homelessness and rough sleeping across the country," he said.
"Actually in Bristol it's more acute than in a lot of places. In the last rough sleeping statistics that were published (by the government) Bristol came (out) as one of the highest local authorities outside of London in terms of rough sleeping numbers."
You can find out more about Housing Justice and their Citadel programme, including how to volunteer, via this link.