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
Cambridge Cyrenians Ltd
4 Short Street
Cambridge
CB1 1LB
Tel: 01223 712501
Email: office@cambridgecyrenians.org.uk
Website: http://www.cambridgecyrenians.org.uk
Cambridge Cyrenians provides a range of supported accommodation for single, homeless men and women. The office is open 9.00am-5.00pm Monday to Friday.
Cambridge Women and Homelessness Group/Corona House
1 Corona Road
Cambridge
CB4 3EE
Tel: 01223 369125
Email: corona_house@yahoo.co.uk
The group runs two houses for homeless women without dependants. Corona House is a six-bed hostel providing temporary accommodation with support and there is a ‘move on’ house, which provides permanent accommodation for two residents. Support is also provided for 40 ex-residents now living in the community and there is an informal drop-in service for ex-residents. Support during office hours and an emergency contact number at other times. Women can refer themselves, but referrals also come from other agencies.
Cambridge SOFA
Unit H, The Paddocks
347 Cherry Hinton Road
Cambridge
CB1 8DH
Tel/fax: 01223 576535
Email: enquiries@cambridgesofa.org.uk
Website: www.cambridgesofa.org.uk
Cambridge SOFA is a great source of affordable furniture, household goods and electrical goods for anyone who receives benefits or a low income. Customers can self refer by showing proof of benefits and address or by obtaining a referral form from a caring agency (e.g Lifecraft, CAB, Social Services etc). The shop is open Mondays to Friday, 10.00am- 3.00pm.
Cam-mind (Housing)
Tel: 01223 464418
Cam-mind works in partnership with The Cambridge Housing Society and is able to offer accommodation to 21 residents suffering from long-term mental health problems. A low-level visiting support service geared to individual needs of each resident is provided by the Cam-mind support team in a combination of two group homes and individual self-contained flats. Application forms can be obtained from Cam-mind’s Housing co-ordinator.
Castle Project (Housing)
Offices C & D Dales Brewery
Gwydir Street
Cambridge
CB1 2LJ
Tel: 01223 566737
Email: castle.project@richmondfellowship.org.uk
They provide supported accommodation and floating support for young people (16-25) moving towards independence. Each person has a key worker who offers practical and emotional support. Access to a daily drop-in and activity programme, which can include an arts project and annual holiday are also part of the package. Places are funded mainly by Supporting People.
Cyrenians Mental Health Team
125 Newmarket Road
Cambridge
CB5 8HA
Tel: 01223 712518
Email: val@cambridgecyrenians.org.uk
Website: http://www.cambridgecyrenians.org.uk
Cambridge Cyrenians is a registered charity that provides a range of accommodation and support for homeless people. The aims of the services are: to improve access to properly developed mainstream services to people who have a mental illness or a dual diagnosis of which mental illness is a component, and who have problems of homelessness, either as a transient, or recurring feature of their lives. Mental illness does not have to be formally diagnosed to justify involvement with the service. Contact can be made on the above telephone number between 9.00am- 5.00pm.
Ditchburn Place Supported Housing
(Cambridge City Council)
Mill Road
Cambridge CB1 2DR
Tel: 01223 314800
Email: independent.living@cambridge.gov.uk
Website: http://www.cambridge.gov.uk
Ditchburn Place has twenty-one self-contained fully furnished properties that are let on a temporary basis of up to two years. Also, Burmaside House offers four fully furnished bedsits with communal facilities and Number 39 offers three fully furnished bedsits with communal facilities. Each resident is allocated one hour's support per week from a Support Worker.
The housing is not aimed specifically at people with mental health problems as it caters for anyone who could be considered vulnerable. Referral forms are available. All referrals need support from a professional.
East Cambridgeshire District Council
The Grange,
Nutholt Lane
Ely
Cambs
CB7 4PL
Tel: 01353 665555
Email: housing@eastcambs.gov.uk
Website: http://www.eastcambs.gov.uk/
The Council does not have its own stock of homes. These are now owned and managed by Sanctuary Hereward. The Council does however provide a comprehensive housing advice service available to anyone in the area, providing advice and information on private renting, tenants’ rights, repairs, harassment, etc. The Council also deals with homelessness and can advise on local housing options.
The council is part of the Home-Link Choice Based Lettings Scheme, which deals with lettings of all social rented housing in the Cambridge sub-region. Details can be found on the website www.Home-Link.org . The office is open 8.45am- 5.00pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8.45am-4.30pm on Fridays. Ring the above number for an appointment or call in.
Ely Link Scheme
Coneygear Court
Coneygear Road
Huntingdon
PE29 1PR
Tel: 01480 437648
Website: www.grantahousing@gov.uk
Through this scheme Granta Housing Society provide practical, emotional and social support seven days a week to around 13 service users at any one time. Referrals are predominantly from the North Rural CMHT, to a panel that meets monthly. The scheme provides floating support to individuals who need more intensive support than the CMHT can provide, and who live in the area covered by the CMHT.
Emmaus Cambridge
Emmaus Community
Green End
Landbeach
Cambridge
CB25 9FD
Tel: 01223 863657
Email: emmauscambridge@dsl.pipex.com
Website: www.emmauscambridge.org
Emmaus Cambridge is a self-supporting, working community of people, many of whom were previously homeless. Companions (residents) agree to ‘sign off’ from front-line benefit. The community runs a business renovating and selling second hand household goods. Opening hours for the shop and office are Monday 8.30am- 1.00pm and 2.00pm-5.00pm; Tuesday 8.30am- 5.00pm; Wednesday 8.30am- 8pm and Thursday to Saturday 8.30am-5.00pm.
English Churches Housing Group
222 Victoria Road
Cambridge
CB4 3LG
Tel: 01223 352718
The organisation provides temporary accommodation for 74 people with 24-hour cover. Support is given for a range of issues according to client need and to help individuals to move on to more long-term accommodation. Activities and training courses are provided on and off-site. Referral is through the Cambridge City Council, Cambridge Street Outreach Team or Cambridge Probation Service only.
Granta Housing Society Ltd
1 Horizon Park
Barton Road
Comberton
Cambridge
CB23 7AF
Tel: 01223 576756
Email: info@grantahousing.org.uk
Website: www.grantahousing.org.uk
Contact the Supported Housing Department for the Area Supported Housing Managers.
Granta runs several projects for people with mental health needs in Cambridge. These vary from 24-hour cover, including sleep-ins. This is usually shared accommodation or bedsits/flats with cover 9.00am-5.00pm on weekdays and weekends and Group Homes with cover of 30 hours per week. Referrals are through mental health professionals, with potential tenants subject to the CPA process. The following are all run by Granta in Cambridge City:
- 10 Suez Road
Staff from 340 Mill Road provide support to this three-person group home. - Vicarage Terrace Cambridge Telephone: 01223 329121
Contact the Project Manager. This provides day time support and emergency on call support during the night for 15 tenants for up to 2 years and 3 tenants long-term. The aim is to enable individuals to gain stability and confidence and reintegration into the community. - 15 Garden Walk Cambridge CB4 3EW Telephone: 01223 361979
Contact the Project Manager. This provides 24-hour support for tenants for a flexible period as determined by individual need. - 38-44 Garden Walk Cambridge CB4 3EW Telephone: 01223 300188
Contact the Project Manager. This provides permanent bedsit accommodation for 25 people for a flexible period as determined by individual need. Staff are on duty Monday-Friday and Saturday afternoon. Staff at 15 Garden Walk provide support when necessary. - 340 Mill Road Cambridge CB1 3NN Telephone: 01223 410271
Contact the Project Manager. The scheme provides 24-hour cover for eight permanent tenants for a flexible period as determined by individual need. Each person has their own rooms and share other facilities. - 29 Magrath Avenue Cambridge CB4 3AH Telephone: 01223 361718
Contact the Project Manager. The scheme provides 24-hour cover for eight permanent tenants for a flexible period as determined by individual need. Each person has their own rooms and share other facilities. - 316 Cambridge Road Telephone: 01223 410196
Contact the Project Manager. This provides day time support and emergency on call support at night for six tenants for a flexible period as determined by individual need. Each person has their own rooms and shares other facilities. - Denham Place, 4 Coleridge Road, Cambridge CB1 3GB
Telephone: 01223 410271
Contact the Project Manager. The scheme provides self- contained accommodation for 16 people, with low level staff support for a flexible period as determined by individual need. - Granta Group Homes Telephone: 01223 410196
Contact the Project Manager. The scheme provides homes for people with long-term mental health problems. Most of the 12 properties house three tenants who have their own bedroom and share other facilities. Tenants are supported for a flexible period as determined by individual need.
Jimmy’s Night Shelter
Zion Baptist Church
1 East Road
Cambridge
CB1 1BD
Tel/ Fax: 01223 576085
Email: admin@jimmysnightshelter.org.uk
Web: www.jimmysnightshelter.org.uk
Jimmy’s Night Shelter aims to provide, throughout the year, accommodation that is welcoming, safe and warm to anyone who would otherwise be forced to sleep rough on the streets of Cambridge. They assist those who feel able to move into more appropriate accommodation, offering an effective style of resettlement. Jimmy’s only accept self-referrals from 6.00pm, which are on a first-come, first-served basis, but agencies may check if there are any vacancies available by telephoning the number detailed above.
Orwell Housing Association
Whitworth House
109 Chesterton Road
Cambridge
CB4 3AR
Tel: 01223 517287
Email: whitworthhouse@orwell-housing.co.uk
Whitworth House provides temporary accommodation of up to two years for single homeless women aged between 16 and 25 with low support needs. They have 13 spaces. 24 hour low level support is provided. Self- referrals and referrals from other agencies are accepted. People can either telephone or call in to get an application form. On receipt of application form an interview will be arranged.
Sanctuary Hereward
St Mary’s Lodge
St Mary’s Street
Ely
Cambs
CB7 4EY
Tel: 0845 850 5757
Email: enquiries-hereward@sanctuary-housing.co.uk
Website: www.sanctuary-housing.co.uk
They manage the housing waiting list for east Cambridgeshire on behalf of the District Council. Housing association properties are advertised and let through Home-Link, a new choice based lettings scheme. Contact Sanctuary Hereward for a housing application or apply on line at www.home-link.org.uk.
South Cambridgeshire District Council- Housing Department
South Cambridgeshire Hall
Cambourne Business Park
Cambourne
Cambridge
CB23 6EA
Tel: 08450 450 051
Email: duty.housing@scambs.gov.uk
Website: http://www.scambs.gov.uk
If you currently live or work in the area or have previously lived in the area for any significant length of time, or you are aged 60 or over and have close supporting relatives living locally you may be eligible to be placed on the Housing Register or Transfer List. The Customer Services Section of Shire Homes can advise you as to your eligibility and they can be contacted at South Cambs District Council offices.
In addition, homeless applications and requests for housing advice for all types of tenant/owner-occupier can be dealt with by the Homelessness and Housing Advice Section at South Cambridgeshire Hall, contactable on the above telephone number. The offices are open to the public between 8.30am- 4.30pm Mondays to Fridays. Contact can be made by telephone between 8.30am- 5.00pm Monday to Thursday and between 8.30am- 4.30pm on Fridays.
The Cambridge Pringle Group (registered charity)
Pringle House, 14 Ribstone Way
Cambridge
CB4 1FT
Tel: 01223 425946
Email: geo4.cpg@btconnect.com
The Cambridge Pringle Group provides houses for adults with enduring mental illness. Pringle House provides long-term support for 13 people and has staff support seven days a week, with ‘on call’ support at night times. There are also two group homes – one in Milton Road and the other one in the village of Milton. Each house provides a home for four people who enjoy a greater degree of independence, with part-time staff support. There are five supported living flats, one in Arbury and four in Chesterton. The flats also come with part-time support provided according to the needs of the individual tenants.
Willow Walk
17-19 Willow Walk
Cambridge
CB1 1LA
Tel: 01223 519400
Email: Lyn.Watson@echg.org.uk
Willow Walk is also run by English Churches Housing. It provides twenty two spaces for temporary accommodation for people with complex and enduring need including drug and alcohol dependence. Twenty-four hour support is provided. Referrals come from Street Outreach.
Winston House (2 Care)
19 Brooklands Avenue
Cambridge
CB2 8BG
Telephone/fax: 01223 356795
Email: win@2care-rsl.org.uk
Website: www.2care-rsl.org.uk
Winston House provides accommodation for twenty six men and women aged between 18 and 65 who have experienced mental health problems who could benefit from support based on a psychiatric rehabilitation approach. Four of these live semi-independently in a separate bungalow. People can contact the project directly for an application form, though most referrals are through mental health professionals and GPs.
Wintercomfort for the Homeless
Overstream House
Victoria Avenue
Cambridge
CB4 1EG
Tel: 01223 518140
Email: info@wintercomfort.org.uk
Website: www.wintercomfort.org.uk
Open weekdays only between 10.30am- 1.30pm for the drop in. Keyworking with clients occurs in the afternoons by appointment only. Telephone contact can be made between 10.30am- 4.15pm Monday- Friday.
The services provided include: laundry facilities, referral to the Outreach Team, advice, information, counselling, addiction support and weekly activities. Contact Wintercomfort for up-to-date details. Subsidised food is sold between 12pm-1pm.
