The usual length of stay is around 10-14 months and when ready we help you find suitable accommodation to move on to, which is usually supplied by a the local authority housing department via an allocations system called Home Link.

Our experienced staff will give you support tailored to your needs including:

• Support and motivation to make positive changes
• Support and advice about child care and child development
• Getting into daytime activities, training, education and employment
• Setting up home and settling in
• Help with family relationships and making friends
• Support to develop self-understanding, to enable recovery from issues experienced, and encouragement to develop your own personal identity
• Life skills and becoming more independent
• Coping skills and strategies
• Staying safe
• Advice and support regarding physical and mental health, diet, substance misuse, contraception, sexual health, domestic and other forms of abuse
• Budgeting and money management
• Advice and support to claim welfare benefits
• Understanding tenancy agreements and obligations, and keeping your tenancy
• Support with moving on to suitable accommodation

You need to require and be happy to accept support to tackle issues you have experienced and help get your life back on track. You need to be at least 6 months pregnant, or have a baby under 6 months old, and be homeless or at risk of homelessness. You need to be committed to caring for your baby and developing your parenting skills.

You are welcome to visit us to find out more. You can apply for a place yourself or be referred by an agency you already have contact with. We will send you an application form. There is a paper application form for applicants or to complete. If you have no-one to help you, please contact us and we will try and assist you.

All applications and assessments are discussed at the multi-agency allocation panel and places are allocated to those considered by the Panel to be most appropriate to the level of service provided. All applicants are advised in writing of the outcome of their application and successful applicants are placed on a waiting list. The Panel will discuss alternatives with unsuccessful applicants.

Yes, you have the right to appeal. You or your referrer must write to the Service Manager within 14 days of receiving the rejection letter giving reasons why you think the decision was wrong. If the Service Manager thinks your application should be reconsidered, then your application will be looked at again at the next Allocation Panel meeting. If the Service Manager does not think your reasons for appealing are justified, your appeal will be passed to the Community Support Manager at CHS who will arrange an appeal hearing. You have the right to have someone with you at the appeal hearing.

You will need to pay the rent and any service charges and may be eligible for Housing Benefit towards these costs. In many cases tenants only have to pay their personal service charge for hot water, heat and light as this is not eligible for Housing Benefit. You do not have to pay for the support.

Mondays to Fridays, with emergency call cover at other times and over night