The need for STARS

Stable accommodation is a key part of what has become known as

Recovery Capital,5 without which

‘the impact of drug and alcohol treatment is thought to fade quickly after someone has left and treatment alone does not create sustained recovery outcomes in

individuals’.6

STARS’ Intensive Support works with many of the most prolific and chaotic substance misusers in Suffolk. Clients demonstrate high levels of vulnerability, having multiple needs at the point of accessing the service. These include moderate and in some cases severe and enduring mental health conditions, histories of violence, abuse and neglect and long periods with no employment.

STARS’ Advice and Advocacy (A&A) service caters for clients whose housing situation was a barrier to recovery. They might be experiencing problems from neighbours in terms of noise, harassment and/or conflict with family members, all of which impacted on their potential recovery from substance misuse and/or offending.

The common theme for clients accepted to the Intensive Support service was a lack of stable and suitable accommodation, often combined with dependence on income generated by dealing and other offending. Many were street homeless, sofa surfing, living in tents or living in shared accommodation with other dysfunctional peers or family members. Many have spent considerable lengths of time in and out of prison. Their substance misuse was frequently out of control and putting them at severe risk of harm.

What all clients share is that they had reached ‘rock bottom’ and showed motivatio n to address both their substance use and their

patterns of offending. Many clients have experienced periods free from substance misuse and/or offending in the past, but had relapsed. Clients’ ‘rock bottom’ took the form of near-death overdoses, suicide attempts, violent incidents at home or on the streets, being thrown out by friends or family or yet another arrest.

The STARS team responds promptly to referrals, rehousing those in high need into Intensive Support accommodation within days and offering advice and advocacy to those with less acute needs on an ongoing basis. The latter leading where possible to rehousing people either within properties owned by Genesis, other social landlords or in private rented accommodation. Genesis have a specific and targeted focus on providing quality accommodation and this is acknowledged by clients, family members and partners alike to be an essential first step on the road to recovery and rehabilitation.

Since its inception, STARS have worked with 66 IS clients and provided Advice and Advocacy to xx others.

Granfield, R. and Cloud, W. (2001) Social Context and “Natural Recovery”: The Role of Social Capital in the Resolution of Drug-Associated Problems, Substance Use and Misuse, Vol. 36, pp1543-1570 Ibid