Bristol Homeless Week: Julian Trust

Bristol Homelessness Week has been set up to raise awareness of homelessness, the risk of becoming homeless and the issues facing rough sleepers. A number of organisations including Julian Trust, which has run an emergency night shelter for homeless people in Bristol since 1986, have opened their doors this week to show how they support the city’s homeless.

The Julian Trust has been working with Bristol’s homeless for the past 30 years and Richard Drake says the need for their services has never been greater.

“We used to see mainly older men and people with dogs…now you see younger people with drink and drug problems.”

“When I first started we had 15 beds and there was often spare, now we have 18 beds and every night we have as many as we can safely have. There is a massive need in the city.”

Around 120 volunteers work at Julian Trust helping with everything from soup preparation to overnight supervision

He says there is no one cause for the rise in homelessness in Bristol. Increasing use of drugs like Spice, immigration status and the rise in rents are all having an impact on the number of people sleeping rough on the streets.

Richard says one of the messages of homelessness awareness week is to encourage people to act before they become homeless.

“Once you start sleeping rough it doesn’t take long before more problems start to kick in – depression, mental illness, you meet people who lead you astray, substance abuse – it’s much harder to help people who are already homeless,” he adds.

The sheer volume of people needing help means there is rarely any spaces left at the 18-bed night shelter run by Julian Trust

In 2015 5,600 households in Bristol became homeless or were threatened with homelessness. One of the main causes was private rental contracts ending, loss of support of family and friends and domestic violence.

Brenda Massey, assistant mayor, says people often end up homeless when it could have been prevented.

“If people ask for help early, one of the many organisations working to end homelessness in the city can often intervene and keep a roof over someone’s head.”

The council work with a number of organisations like Julian Trust and the Citizens Advice Bureau to try and prevent people from ending up rough sleeping.

“Don’t come the day your flat is being repossessed,” says Richard, “come for help as soon as you can’t afford the rent.”

Julian Trust is always looking for volunteers especially people who may be able to do overnight shelter supervision.

If you are aware of a person that is rough sleeping, please contact Streetlink by clicking here.  A member of their team will make contact with the person to help them into emergency short stay accommodation.