Emmaus Bristol is a working community. Companions (formerly homeless adults) sign off benefits when they join, with the exception of housing benefit if they are 'entitled' to it, and volunteer in our social enterprises. This provides stability, work experience and training, and generates some of the funds needed to run the charity. Companions receive a living allowance as well as weekly savings and everyday essentials.

Emmaus Bristol is a home for as long as its needed, and someone's stay in the community is not time limited. Everyone has a different recovery time and support is person-centred. But most do want to move on, and work hard to find paid employment, using the skills and experience they've gained here and elsewhere.

When a companion has found work, or is simply ready for more independence, it is incredibly hard to move on because of the lack of social housing and the prohibitively expensive and competitive private rental sector. Out of 26 companion rooms, five are currently rented by former companions who have found work but have been unable to move out. This prevents us from being able to help those currently homeless who need those rooms, and prevents those companions in work from moving on with their lives. It also puts pressure on those companions working in the social enterprises.

Because of this we need to add new, affordable homes to our community. We are exploring options at the moment and are considering the following:

1) Developing our own rooftop. We worked with Agile on a design for 15 new eco homes, for which we now have planning permission.

2) A traditional on-the-ground development of one and two-bed flats, for example, a site currently being developed by Bristol Together in Knowle West.

3) Acquiring and converting an existing non-residential building to form new affordable homes.

The route we take depend on what the best opportunity is when we are ready. We are committed to adding new homes and our consultation with companions shows that they really want this to happen. To be able to move on while having the safety of Emmaus Bristol as their landlord and to be able to remain connected to the Emmaus Bristol community.

We also need to add new companion housing as in October 2021 we will lose a three-bed house we've had the use of for six years, thanks to the fabulous generosity of the owners.

Every pound given to this campaign will go towards new homes, though we cannot say at this stage what those homes will be. We'll update this campaign page as the project develops.

Thank you so much from all of us, for any support you are able to give.