Meet the Bristolians giving up their spare rooms to help young people experiencing homelessness

Homelessness is one of the biggest issues faced by our city today, driven by unaffordable rents, housing scarcity, and the economic fallout of the pandemic.

All of these factors affect young people disproportionately, in particular those who do not have established support networks that they can rely on, who may be forced into hostels or services designed for adults or ultimately onto the streets, where they face a heightened risk of violence, harassment, and exploitation.

To stop young people from having no option but to sleep on the streets, a growing number of Bristolians are offering up their spare bedrooms to provide a safe place for young people to sleep whilst they find long-term accommodation with the help of support workers.

Bristol Nightstop is run by Caring in Bristol, a homelessness charity that has been active in the city for over thirty years, with funding from The National Lottery Community Fund. As Bristol Nightstop prepares to relaunch this week, following a thorough overhaul to ensure it is Covid-safe, we spoke with project managers Isabel and Mel, as well as veteran hosts K & T and newbie V about how the scheme works and what compelled them to open up their homes to help some of Bristol’s most vulnerable people.

K & T’s story

‘As a couple living in central Bristol, we increasingly realised how fortunate we are to have stability in our life and a place to live. I felt a need to do something practical. I saw an article about hosting for Nightstop in the national press and thought we’d give it a go.

The application process was straightforward, involving a short questionnaire, two references and a DBS check to ensure we had no criminal convictions. In-person training was provided giving an insight into the experiences of other hosts and practical examples.

Workshops and informal meetings were also held where we met other potential hosts and a home visit took place to ensure that practically the house was suitable (for example another smoke alarm was needed). We hosted our first guest, a former refugee, in early 2019.

Initial apprehension at having a stranger in one’s home soon disappeared. We quickly realised that, invariably, similar concerns were felt by the guest. It was also reassuring to know that the Nightstop team was on hand 24/7 if required, although this has never been needed. We came to appreciate that time is short and it’s therefore crucial to ensure guests are at ease. We don’t ‘stand on ceremony’ and would like to think that our guests will feel similarly at home.

In many ways, our experience has been easier than originally anticipated. Each guest has individual needs – some, for example, may want to engage and chat over dinner, whereas others are content to stay in their room. We quickly learnt not to take offence.

We also came to appreciate that we are a small part of a large network helping to encourage young people towards a more positive future. Both parties can gain much from the experience. We realised what little effort is actually necessary to make a real difference. If you have a spare room and can spare a few hours then you can host!’

Of course, the Bristol Nightstop team has had to adjust the format to the realities of Covid-19. Project coordinator Isabel explains: ‘Nightstop has adapted its model completely in order to operate safely during the pandemic. We are totally in awe of our hosts, who are willing to have a young person stay in their homes for longer placements.’

Despite these changes, recruitment has continued apace, with the Bristol Nightstop actually seeing an uptick in new applicants as ideas of solidarity and mutual aid came to the fore.

V’s Story:

‘I am one of Nightstop’s newest recruits, who applied to the project back in January 2021 after discovering Nightstop whilst having a nose around the Caring in Bristol website. I was drawn to the simplicity of what the project was doing – offering a bed to a young person in need of somewhere to stay for the night. I am not a qualified social worker, nor a trained counsellor, but I do have a spare bedroom, and that’s all Bristol Nightstop needs from me.

I was also drawn to the flexibility of the project. The days and duration I will be hosting is dependent on my preferences and lifestyle. For example, I tend to be busier at work in the first few months of the year which would limit my ability to host. However, I can offer more nights over the remaining months of the year and the Nightstop team was very understanding of this.

The application process was very quick. Following the submission of my application, I had my interview and training within a few weeks. The Nightstop team were considerate of my current work obligations and so we arranged two 3-hour sessions over a weekend. I was lucky enough to undergo my training with three other prospective host households which made me feel like I was becoming part of a community.

It was comforting to know I wasn’t the only one who is a little nervous. I know it might be difficult to be a rapport with a stranger who is staying in your house for a few nights but I’m sure this feeling will soon fade away when I actually start hosting in the Spring.

From my training, I discovered the sheer diversity of individuals who may need to rely on Nightstop. This is something I am particularly excited about as I will have the chance to meet people from a wide range of backgrounds and will encourage me to see the world from different perspectives. I am also very excited to start cooking for other people as this is something I have missed during lockdown!’

As the project returns to full steam, Isabel is keen to recruit hosts from a range of backgrounds:
‘Our client community is increasingly diverse, and yet the majority of host applications we receive are from cissexual white couples. We want Bristol Nightstop to fully reflect our city’s population and the diversity that makes Bristol such a great place to live and so would strongly encourage people of all races, nationalities, abilities, sexual orientations and gender identities who are interested in hosting to get in touch.’

Could you be a Bristol Nightstop host?

If you have a spare bedroom in your home and a willingness to help others then get in touch: nightstop@caringinbristol.org.uk

A member of the Bristol Nightstop team will then get in touch to arrange a chat about the next steps.