Advocacy Information & Advice—Housing
If people are homeless and considered to be in priority need (which may be the case for people with mental health problems), local authorities have a duty to provide temporary accommodation while they consider if there is a duty to provide permanent accommodation. Often people go to the office with a social worker, but people can contact the housing office direct, in which case the office will need to contact the relevant mental health professionals. If a homeless person who is not local is discharged from psychiatric hospital, the local authority may still have a duty towards that person, but could refer them to an authority where they lived previously. If people with mental health problems are not homeless but want to be rehoused by the local authority, they can go to the Housing Department to put their name on the Housing Needs Register. Medical problems may count towards additional points when an application is considered.
You can get advice on housing (including help with finding it) from the following organisations, depending on where you live.
Local Contacts
Accent Nene
Manor House
57 Lincoln Road
Peterborough
PE1 2RR
Tel: 01733 295400
Freephone: 0800 393 890
Email: info@accentre.org
Website:www.accentnene.org
A general needs housing association providing affordable rented homes in the Peterborough area and throughout the East Midlands for people in need. The supported needs of all applicants are assessed to ensure appropriate care/support is available fore being accepted on to the waiting list. Housing is allocated on a points system and applications are accepted from single people, couples, families,the elderly and disabled. The office is open 9am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday.
Haven Night Shelter
32 Cromwell Road
Peterborough
PE1 2EA
Tel: 01733 554858
The Shelter provides a 17 bed direct access hostel. Residents have a stay of eight weeks and during this time they are allocated a key worker who deals with trying to resettle the resident and also any issues that need addressing via various agencies in the area. We have access for disabled, although this is limited. The New Haven operates on a first come, first served policy and beds cannot be pre-booked. On entry, a new resident has a booking in procedure which covers benefits and the licence agreement.
Housing Options
Ground Floor
Bayard Place
Broadway
Peterborough
PE1 1HZ
Tel: 01733 864064
Email: housing.options@peterborough.gov.uk
Housing Options offers free confidential and independent advice to all members of the community on housing, welfare rights and debt issues. They provide their services for those living in Peterborough and the surround area and are contactable 9am-5pm Monday to Friday.
Peterborough YMCA Time Stop
101 Wellington Street
Eastgate
Peterborough
PE1 5DU
Tel: 01733 349932
Email: admin@theymca.org.uk
Website: www.theymca.org.uk
A direct access hotel for 16-25 year old homeless people providing accommodation, resettlement help and a counselling service. There is also a drop-in/information/advice/activity centre for any 16-=25 year old with any issues/problems. The hostel is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the drop-in centre is open from 3pm-5pm, Monday to Friday. Counselling is by appointment.
St Matthew Housing
The Malthouse Project
8 Elsey's Yard
Risbygate Street
Bury St. Edmonds
Suffolk
IP33 3AA
Tel: 01284 732550
Email: info@stmatthewhousing.org
Website: www.stmatthewhousing.org
St. Matthew Housing provides low care supportive accommodation for single, vulnerable adults (18+ yrs) with a variety of vulnerabilities including mental health and who live in the East Midlands or East Anglia.
