Meeting people in their emergency
As well as fighting hard against the causes of homelessness, we are there for people in their moment of need.
Our Crisis Intervention teams are equipped for just this.
Anne Hope House
Anne Hope House is a therapeutic residential community for women who are homeless and seeking to make positive changes in their lives.
Residents at Anne Hope House are supported to live a life of recovery and work towards their goals for the future. This is achieved through a group work programme, one to one support, recreational activities and work and volunteering opportunities. Individuals are supported by an all-female team in collaboration with external agencies as appropriate.
Anne Hope House operates as a community in which everyone plays a part. There is a culture of peer support, empowerment and shared involvement in household activities.
Accommodation is provided in single en-suite rooms for up to 8 individuals, and the house is staffed 24/7. There are communal living spaces including a lounge, kitchen, dining area and garden.
Who can apply?
Women aged 18+ who are eligible for temporary accommodation with the City of Edinburgh Council and are ready to live a life of recovery.
How to apply
For further information please contact the team on 0131 552 3907. The address is confidential.
Rapid Re-accommodation Welcome Centre
The Rapid Re-accommodation Welcome Centre provides emergency accommodation with support to anyone who would otherwise be rough sleeping in Edinburgh.
Operating from an Edinburgh city centre hotel October through to May, the Welcome Centre provides each individual or couple with their own bedroom and en-suite facilities. 24/7 care and support are provided by the professional Bethany staff, as well as specialised support from 26 visiting partners, with a focus on rapid re-accommodation. Each day there is breakfast, lunch and a hot nutritious evening meal provided by Edinburgh and Lothian churches.
Who can apply?
Anyone who would otherwise be rough sleeping, without access to accommodation.
How to apply
Present at the door of the Welcome centre.
For more information please phone 07919557673.
Care Van Edinburgh
The Care Van Edinburgh offers food and support to people in crisis on the streets of Edinburgh and operates in conjunction with Edinburgh City Mission and local churches.
The Care Van reaches out to people with food and support at 5 different stops throughout the City of Edinburgh, 5 lunchtimes a week and every night of the year. The Care Van is driven and operated mainly by church volunteers who provide food, hot drinks, conversation and much needed support to anyone facing homelessness.
The food is prepared by the volunteers and they serve filled rolls, fruit, biscuits and a hot drink at lunch time. Freshly made soup and a buttered roll with a hot drink are served in the evening.
Who can apply?
The Edinburgh Care Van is available to anyone who needs it.
How to apply
For more information please phone 0131 454 3120.
Care Van Glasgow
The Care Van Glasgow supports vulnerable individuals in the community through a partnership with Glasgow City Mission and local churches.
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Care Van Glasgow currently operates in Royston and Parkhead engaging with individuals in these areas that may be affected by poverty, isolation, poor health and homelessness. Volunteers on the Care Van help relieve suffering by providing food and hot drinks, a friendly listening ear, encouragement, compassion, local knowledge and information, general advice and signposting to appropriate services.
Who can apply?
This service is free to attend with no referral process required.
To find out more about this service please phone 0141 766 0177.
Care Van Perth
The Care Van Perth supports vulnerable people in the community through a partnership with local churches.
Care Van Perth currently operates in the city centre and aims to reach other areas of Perth in the near future. The Care Van Coordinator provides help and advice to individuals struggling with accessing support such as housing and benefits. Individuals can attend the Care Van to receive help with their applications as well as meeting volunteers who provide hot drinks, a friendly listening ear, encouragement, compassion, local information, general advice and signposting to appropriate services.
Who can apply?
This service is free to attend with no referral process required.
How to apply
Get in touch with Swarthick and his team if you would like to find out more on 07553030895 or by using this contact form.
Bethany House
Bethany House provides Emergency Resettlement accommodation with support for men and women who are homeless.
Residents at Bethany House are offered personalised support to live independently in preparation for gaining their own tenancy. This is achieved through one to one support, specialised addiction support when relevant, recreational activities and work and volunteering opportunities. Individuals are supported by an excellent and experienced team in collaboration with external agencies as appropriate.
Accommodation is provided in 6 single sex flats all within the same building. All in all we support 28 residents. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is provided by staff for the residents and the house is staffed 24/7. There are large communal living spaces including a dining room, pool room and group work room as well as each individual flat having a lounge and kitchen space. There are regular opportunities for the residents to shape the support they receive through house meetings, flat meetings, questionnaires and individual discussion.
Who can apply?
Men and Women 18+ who are eligible for temporary accommodation with the City of Edinburgh Council.
How to apply
All referrals into Bethany House should be made via the City of Edinburgh Council.
For further information please contact the team on 0131561 8911.
Bethany Christian Centre
Bethany Christian Centre is a supported residential community for men who are homeless, providing assistance to individuals in their recovery from addiction.
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The Centre provides access to a recovery programme including structured group-work, one-to-one support, recreation, voluntary work and training opportunities. There is a focus on a Christian recovery programme, however individuals who do not want a faith aspect are also welcome.
Accommodation is provided in an abstinence based community setting. It’s for men who are motivated to address the underlying issues and work towards setting firm foundations that allow for eventually moving on in a positive way. There are 18 spaces with 3 twin and 12 single bedrooms.
Communal areas include a quiet room, a television lounge, a communal dining room, a residents’ tearoom, a laundry room and a garden.
Who can apply?
Men aged between 18-65, who are eligible for temporary accommodation with the City of Edinburgh Council and are motivated to live a life of recovery.
A minimum stay of 6 months is recommended.
How to apply
For further information please contact the team at:
Bethany Christian Trust, 6 Casselbank Street, Edinburgh, EH6 5HA
Please phone 0131 454 3125.
Gateway to Homes and Communities
Gateway provides households with furniture and basic home goods as they take up a new council tenancy in Edinburgh. The project is run in partnership with Fresh Start and funded by the City of Edinburgh Council.
Gateway helps individuals and families set up their new home by providing good quality second hand beds and seating, new microwaves, new fridges and an assortment of starter packs such as Crockery & Cutlery, Pots & Pans, Cleaning Materials, Bedding and many more within three working days of receiving a referral. In order to provide quality furniture as cost effectively as possible, Bethany also operates a furniture collection service of donated goods.
Gateway is a consortium run project that partners with Fresh Start who utilise their network of churches and volunteers to collect, sort and prepare donated and new goods into thousands of starter packs distributed by Gateway to households each year.
Who can apply?
Households moving into new City of Edinburgh Council tenancies can be referred to Gateway by a housing officer or any other professional working with the household. A small number of referrals for non-CEC tenants can be accepted each month.
How to apply
For further information please contact the team on 0131 561 8903 for a Gateway referral or 0131 561 8904 to make a furniture donation enquiry.
Gateway Plus
Gateway Plus provides furniture and basic home goods to households in housing association tenancies.
Gateway Plus helps housing associations and support agencies access cost effective goods for their tenants, offering furniture, starter packs and a range of appliances at very low prices.
Gateway Plus can provide new beds and second hand seating, new microwaves, and an assortment of starter packs in partnership with Fresh Start, such as Crockery & Cutlery, Pots & Pans, Cleaning Materials, Bedding and many more. Delivery is within three working days of receiving a referral. In order to provide quality furniture as cost effectively as possible, BCT also operates a furniture collection service of donated goods.
Who can apply?
Households living in non-CEC tenancies can be referred to Gateway Plus by their housing association provided that an account has been set up with us.
How to apply
For further information please contact the team on 0131 561 8903 for Gateway Referral or 0131 561 8904 to make a furniture donation enquiry.
The Well
The Well is a community drop in offering support to men and women who are affected by drug or alcohol use.
Individuals seeking to make positive changes in their lives are supported in their recovery journey. This is done by peer support and one to one support, recreational activities and volunteering opportunities. Our Recovery and Development Coordinator helps individuals develop a support plan that focuses on their own aims and goals for the future using an outcome star tool.
The Well is part of the Shed Project in Stornoway, which is supported by the local ADP. Bethany’s work with the Shed Project is delivered in partnership and jointly funded by Martin’s Memorial Church of Scotland in Stornoway.
Who can join?
Anyone over 16 and seeking to make positive changes in their life.
How to join
The Well is on Monday, Wednesday 10-4 and Friday 7-9.30pm The Shed project, 11 Francis street Stornoway HS1 2BN
For more information contact Ian on 01851 704557 or 07436151206
Bethany Banquets
A two course roast dinner with all the trimmings for anyone in the City of Edinburgh who would use the Care Van or Welcome Centre and is needing a good meal, company and support.
Bethany Banquets are run in the summer months in the absence of the Rapid Re accommodation Welcome Centre. The aim is to make our guests feel welcome by providing a nice environment with table decorations, really good food and live entertainment. The evening is run by the Welcome Centre staff with food cooked and served by volunteers. The evening is an excellent opportunity for guests and staff to chat and for staff to find out how people are living during the summer months.
The banquet is intimated by flyers and posters sent out in advance to the many homelessness services operating in the city.
Who can apply?
Anyone who 16+ and feels in need of a hot meal.
How to apply
For more information contact the team on 0131 4543120