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Operating across Norfolk County, the St Martins Housing Trust charity organisation can help people find a new home or access temporary accommodations as they go through the resettlement process. The aim is to help people in poverty as well as the homeless that are on the streets, or maybe sleeping rough, find a solution for their housing crisis.

Any type of assistance is combined with development and other support from programmes such as Contact, Assessment & Prevention Service, or CAPS. It will combine training as well as education to help a prospective tenant save their income for future housing payments. This will help people gain independence and be able to live on their own, and volunteers and key workers from St Martins Housing Trust will partner with clients on this.

Hostels and housing options

There are a few centres run by the charity and that are available for Norfolk residents. These locations will offer short term accommodations or emergency shelter to people in a crisis. They are as follows.

• Highwater House is for substance misusers or the disabled and people with a mental condition.
• A hostel, Bishopbridge House, is for the homeless and is a form of emergency shelter. 45 William Kett Close, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 4FD.
• Carrow Hill Home has almost 25 beds and offers long term care and other support for the disabled. The address is 2-4 Carrow Hill, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 2AJ.

Shared housing is also run by the Trust. This is available from residents of the community who open their homes to the vulnerable or someone that is less fortunate. It allows people to have time to save and budget their income so they can pay a rent deposit in the future, and the services from CAP will also help the client address the cause of their homelessness.

Much of this shared housing is part of Temporary Accommodation Project, which is a partnership with the council. Other charities also are part of the service, and it is shared housing which gives the client time to access long term support for their needs.

Advice and support from St Martins Housing Trust

The aim is to address the difficulty that is facing a formerly homeless person or even someone facing eviction. The Trust will offer support to the family on a low income for their crisis. There is signposting to schemes for costs such as a rent deposit and information on benefits as well as other aid.

CAPS, or the Contact, Assessment & Prevention Service, is for those threatened by homelessness or that are on a low income. Staff from the St Martins Housing Trust will provide an assessment of the clients needs, and then refer them to a programme that addresses it. Or they can help with applying for and completing forms for benefits or deposit schemes in Norfolk.

Training and education is available from programmes such as Under-1-Roof or Learning Employment Accommodation project (LEAP). These are held at centre’s run by the Trust and partners, and services will meet the client’s needs on goals they may have. The training is combined with temporary accommodations.

The main address of St Martins Housing Trust is at 35 Bishopgate, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 4AA Call the charity at 01603 667706 for more information.