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The Norfolk and Norwich Christian community website

hebron trust CFNorwich Christian charity appeals for housing 

Hebron Trust, a local charity that supports women through addiction, is looking for a move-on property to house their clients as they move on ready for a new start.
 

Hebron helps women to rehabilitate from drug and alcohol dependency and the life-dominating problems that serious substance misuse can cause. Suitable move on accommodation is a vital stage of a person's recovery as it provides a bridge to 'normal' living in the community. Hebron is appealing to any churches or individuals who have a 2 or 3 bed property they could rent to the charity as an official move-on property so they can continue to provide aftercare to the women once they leave Hebron House.

This arrangement is already working well at Chapel House, a property owned by Norwich Central Baptist Church which is leased to Hebron Trust. Women who graduate from Hebron and want to relocate can live for up to two years at Chapel House.  Aftercare Support Worker Lou Henman said, "Accommodation at Chapel House is ideal because it is a safe environment to move into and we can continue providing support as the women gain more independence and learn to live in the community. This house is currently full, and will be for the foreseeable future. We currently have two women who will graduate in December, who want to remain in Norwich, but we cannot find them any supported living in the area. We are looking at them privately renting, however this is not easy or ideal."
 
Lou describes A's experience at Hebron and subsequently Chapel House as an illustration of how important the move-on stage is.
"A spent nine months in rehab at Hebron House. Before this she had spent years in addiction to drugs and alcohol and suffered with severe mental health issues and trauma.  As she neared the completion of her programme, we considered her options together with A. It was important to A to be in shared accommodation with females only due to past trauma. We secured additional support for A through Norfolk County Council of 3 hours per week to support her mental health.  This extra support, plus a commitment from A to work with her support worker and take responsibility for her mental health meant that we agreed she would start a phased move to Chapel House.

"The last two weeks of rehab A would spend two nights at Chapel House the first week and three nights the second week, returning to Hebron for groups and counselling as normal before she finally moved out. Prior to moving on from Hebron we helped her access voluntary work, she was so nervous about the interview she asked me to go with her. She has thrived in her voluntary work and loves it so much she has increased her days to three a week.

A has been at Chapel House for two years and has managed her mental health well with the wrap around support provided.  She has recently been discharged from the Community Mental Health Team.  She feels ready to move onto independent living in her own tenancy.  We have registered her with Norwich City Council Home Options, she is bidding on properties now and we hope she will be housed within the next few months.

She is two years clean and much stronger in her recovery and with her mental health and, although apprehensive, is looking forward to having her own home."
 
If anybody in the Christian community in Norwich have 2-3 bed properties which they would be willing to either rent out to the women, or rent out to Hebron Trust to use as another move on house please contact Emma Pawsey on emma.pawsey@hebrontrust.org.uk or 01603 439905


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