(Last update: April 12 2010)

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How is it funded?

Provided you are eligible, Housing Benefit pay the rent. and housing management costs.  We are fundraising to meet other costs, and asking Care Managers, where appropriate, to fund support costs for their clients.

Our service does not cost clients anything, apart from a service charge of £10 per week. We aim to provide safe and supportive accommodation for those in recovery who would otherwise be homeless.

If you get more than £64 per week in benefit (as of April 2010) you may need to give us 40p of every £1 you get above the basic rate of £64 as Housing Benefit will not meet that part of your rent.  After a few weeks, you will receive a Benefit Decision Notice from Housing Benefit giving the exact amount you need to pay (if anything) and we can adjust things accordingly.

We ask for £6 key deposit.

2. Can I work?

You are encouraged to do voluntary work.

Once you move into the low supported housing in Fishponds, Redland or Bedminster, after discussing this with staff, you can work. However, you then have to meet part or all of your rent – depending on how much you earn.

You cannot work “off the books”.

3. I get bored easily. If I can’t work what do I do?

You will have agreed to attend a minimum of threeFellowship meetings a week and to attend Serenity House for three months. Once you have finished at Serenity House you will need to get a Sponsor and to get on with the programme, attending five meetins per week. You will have agreed to learn a new skill or brush up an old skill. You will be encouraged to do some voluntary work. You shouldn’t be bored! You are working to establish a strong foundation on which to build the rest of your life.

Some residents attend ARA, Recovery Dynamics, HOPE Community Church,  RSU etc etc.

In addition to the above, there are meetings in the house, some of which you will always need to attend.

Many people in early recovery do not know how to have fun – fun is essential and your keyworker will help you to access things you will enjoy, whether that is fishing, college, juggling, whatever.

You will have weekly keyworking to ensure that you are not bored, but you are not over-committed either. Easy does it wins the day – but you have to do it!

4. Who runs St Vincent’s?

St Vincent’s is a small private charity. We have a Board of Trustees who oversee what we do, but on a day-to-day basis St Vincent’s is run by staff and residents.

It is in all our interests to have a safe, clean, decent place to live and work.

We are a spiritually based project.

5. How do I know if St Vincent’s is right for me?

• Are you prepared to go to any lengths for your recovery?
• Do you want to be clean and sober for yourself, rather than to please others?
• Are you willing to change?
• Have you had enough of the madness?
• Then come along and see us…or if you are in prison, ask CARATs/Probation to send a referral form into us and we can arrange a telephone assessment.

What have you got to lose? No ifs or buts, it’s got to be better.