Missing Link is a women only organisation which provides temporary and permanent housing for single homeless women who have mental health needs and are looking for support.5 Queen Square, Bristol, BS1 4JQ

Tel: 0117 925 1811

Fax: 0117 929 3290

You may be homeless, living in temporary accommodation or in housing that is inappropriate for your mental health needs. You may be leaving institutional care, or psychiatric hospital.

If you are looking for housing, have mental health needs and feel you need support, Missing Link can provide a choice. You can get in touch with them yourself - you do need to be referred.

They have temporary shared housing which is for women who will benefit from living in a shared house and have the potential to live independently in the community. Women stay in the hostels for about two years.

They also have permanent tenancies in self contained flats with support for up to three years for women who wish to live alone.

They can sometimes provide flexible move-in, such as gradual move from hospital to shared housing/flats with ongoing appropriate support.

They have eight fully furnished houses in Bristol, with between three and five women sharing. Each woman has her own bedroom and shares the kitchen, bathroom and sitting room with the other women in the house.

Each resident has a support worker who, as part of a care plan package, can provide practical and emotional support based on the individual woman's needs. For example, a support worker may help with budgeting, cooking, helping access education, voluntary work or drop-in groups, as well as listening and befriending. We can also access support from the community, such as a day hospital placement, CPN allocation or formal counselling.

Missing Link’s Housing Officers provide practical support with move-in, such as help with applying for appropriate benefits and providing residents with information. They can offer general housing advice including help with securing permanent move-on accommodation. A Housing Officer is allocated to each house and holds regular meetings to discuss tenancy issues such as maintenance requests and day-to-day living issues. There are no residential workers and we do not provide evening or weekend cover. Rent charges include all bills and most women receive help from Housing benefit to pay their rent.

The Floating Support Scheme provides permanent tenancies in self-contained flats in the Bristol area. The Floating Support Workers provide support to each tenant for up to 3 years. The level and kind of support will depend on the needs of the resident and might include:

• Setting up a package of care and support

• Help with maintaining the tenancy

• Regular review of mental health needs

• Liaison with other agencies

• Buying furniture and equipment

• Application for Social Fund Grant to buy furniture

• Advice on budgeting, paying rent and bills

• Information on and introduction to local resources, clubs and social activities

• Information on employment, training and voluntary work

• On-going practical and emotional support

There is a high level of support available at the beginning of a tenancy which is gradually withdrawn until the tenant is managing the tenancy without the need for additional support.

Missing Link house women from different backgrounds and experiences such as class, race, sexuality and mental health and expect women to try to understand and respect each other's differences.

Missing Link are not prepared to house women whose prejudices will cause distress to other women. Where a woman also has an alcohol or drugs problem they would want to negotiate and establish an agreed management/recovery programme with her.

If you are looking for housing with support or would like to refer someone phone the Missing Link office on Bristol 0117 925 1811 or fax (0117) 9293290.

They will discuss what your needs are and, if appropriate, you will be offered an interview.

Missing Link is registered as Bristol Missing Link Ltd under the Industrial Provident Societies Act 1965. Register No. 2421 SR. The Association is a member of the National Federation of Housing Associations

Web Site: www.missinglinkhousing.co.uk