Spring of Hope Women’s Centre offers short term support and refuge to women in Bristol, who are homeless and vulnerable.

Spring of Hope is a non-commissioned referral service, providing shelter, short-term accommodation, and hope for women when they have nowhere else to go. Female homelessness is often complex and can be caused by domestic violence, sudden loss of income, no recourse to public funds, and trauma. Author Joanne Bretherton, from the University of York’s Centre for Housing Policy, said: “Women experiencing homelessness are living in a state of survival, often without access to services and in high-risk environments where they are frequently subjected to violence and abuse.” (Source)

Here’s what one woman had to say about Spring of Hope.

I started using Spring of Hope every day. Something clicked with me there. I kept coming back and coming back. I just found it safe to stay; welcome, clean, and a warm place to be. And they (staff and volunteers) were really supportive to me. They were great with me from the start. I felt a connection there. I stayed there and got a referral to ARA (Addiction Recovery Agency), and got into a prep house.

The team of staff and volunteers at Spring of Hope advocate for women, walking alongside them to help them get to a place where they are able to engage with specialised agencies who can offer longer term support.

Find out more about what Spring of Hope offers homeless and vulnerable women in Bristol, and how you can get involved through volunteering, becoming a staff member, and how to refer a vulnerable woman for help.