Restorative Approaches: Could building relationships reduce Bristol’s housing crisis?
A deepening housing crisis and lack of access to social housing means many people in Bristol are on the brink of homelessness. In response, Changing Futures is supporting the restorative approaches pilot which aims to reduce the risk of eviction from temporary accommodation.
Changing Futures Bristol is an innovative systems change programme that explores new ways to support people experiencing multiple disadvantage, such as the combination of homelessness and mental health issues. Kath Williams, Changing Futures Programme Director, says:
“Many people in temporary accommodation have experienced trauma and need extra support to sustain their tenancy. We believe as a city, we can acknowledge this trauma better and adapt our support accordingly.”
Restorative approaches are techniques and strategies that emphasise conflict resolution, community building, repairing harm, promoting accountability and fostering empathy. Changing Futures supports staff and residents in temporary accommodation to rebuild relationships through conversation and move away from traditional punitive approaches to challenging behaviour.
For the past six months, Changing Futures has piloted this approach with Missing Link, a Bristol-based mental health and housing service for women.
From punitive to restorative approaches
Missing Link provides supported housing to women who have mental health needs and are homeless, have experience sleeping rough, or whose housing is at risk due to mental health issues.
Like other supported housing settings, conflicts such as theft, disputes, noise and mess are common, and staff members felt approaches to resolving issues were inconsistent and punitive. The restorative approaches pilot offered staff the opportunity to explore a more proactive conflict resolution method. Charlotte, Missing Link’s manager, said:
“We would like to reduce warnings and punitive measures. Restorative approaches allow meaningful client involvement. By creating a respectful environment, we believe behaviour will improve as people understand the impact of their actions.”
During the pilot, Missing Link staff members attended a two-day training course and monthly coaching sessions with Jo Everritt, an expert in restorative approaches. They learned about restorative tools and Jo helped staff create environments conducive to restorative approaches, recommending regular house meetings and scheduling activities to encourage a community feel.
Staff and residents are beginning to see results. Charlotte was initially surprised by how effective strategies such as restorative conversations are:
“When conflict escalated in one house, staff had one-to-one restorative conversations with each client. This led to a circle meeting where everyone could express their feelings and identify underlying needs. This resulted in a weekly baking activity to build community and restore relationships.”
Six months into the pilot, staff said they felt “more empowered to have challenging conversations with residents”.
What’s next
One difficulty that remains is using restorative approaches for serious rule violations, such as drug use in the house. Sometimes, despite the best efforts of staff, serious incidents happen that result in evictions. Charlotte says:
“There has to be a line, and that can be tricky with restorative approaches. We’re not here all the time and people need to feel safe.”
However, overall, Charlotte feels the pilot has been a largely positive experience. She says:
“We’re definitely going to keep going after the pilot has finished. We will keep doing training to keep skills and confidence high.”
Other organisations in Bristol have expressed interest in learning from Missing Link and working with Changing Futures to introduce restorative approaches.
Changing Futures Bristol will be supporting the restorative approaches pilot until March 2025.
This article, by Ben Muton-Phillips, Beth Fouracre, and Johanna Everett (on behalf of Changing Futures Bristol), is adapted from a longer version originally published on 30 November 2024 in the winter issue of Resolution, the Restorative Justice Council’s quarterly magazine.
Thank you to Missing Link for taking part in the restorative approaches pilot. For more information about Missing Link, visit their website here.
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