‘They gave me all the support I needed. It’s a good clean environment. There’s 15 women here so you can’t help mixing in with
them.’
Maryhill offers supported, gender sensitive accommodation to seven women. Residents present a wide range of issues which have often been masked primarily by alcohol abuse. Although the women can consume alcohol, it is within a controlled environment and the emphasis is on harm reduction.
‘I wouldn’t be here today if I hadn’t had Maryhill house and the Simon Community. I’d never felt so alone as I did when I went there.
I’d never felt as frightened. They gave me a roof over my head. A settled way of life. Support. Practical support as well as
emotional support..’
Newlands offers semi-supported accommodation to four women and three men. The project is aimed at people for whom moving into their own tenancy would be too daunting a step. Newlands offers them the opportunity to spend some time adjusting to life back out in mainstream accommodation.
‘What you get is safe comfortable surroundings with a chance for some respite and a safe base to plan your future from. Good links with other services. Independence but, at the same time, support if needed.’
Tollcross Project offers supported accommodation to ten men. The emphasis in the project is on resettlement and it is anticipated that service users will move on to their own tenancies within a 6–18 month time period.
‘I was used to being shunted from hostel to hostel but they're more caring here, I've found, sincere people, genuine.'
Parkhead is a semi-supported accommodation project, similar to Newlands, aiming to give people the chance
to build confidence as they adjust to living more independently. The project consists of nine self-contained
flats, and is suitable for both men and women, and is our first project that can accept couples and people with
pets, and is consequently much in demand!