DHI began in 1996 with just one member of staff in Bath running the service as a project of Bath Self Help Housing Association. We now have over 60 staff, and have expanded to offer services to clients not only in Bath, but also in rural areas of North East Somerset, Wiltshire and South Gloucestershire.
Set up initially to address the complex relationship between homelessness and drug use, in its first year alone DHI helped over 60 new clients through its supported 'dry' house and information and advice service. By 1998 DHI provided a range of flexible and interdependent services, including Detached Outreach, Resettlement and Structured Day Care. This allowed service users to progress from one service to another as their needs changed, or be in receipt of more than one service at any one time. The following year, DHI moved to their new larger and more central premises in Milsom Street.
In 1999 DHI was established as an independent charitable company, and our achievements were soon recognised by the Department of Health, winning a prestigious Social Care Award for 'Promoting Independence' in 2000. The prize money from the award helped to set up the Resource Room for clients, offering access to computer facilities, a library, information and a safe space to chat, drink tea or coffee, and as a gateway to other services on offer.
Recognizing the links between crime and drug use, and the large number of prisoners leaving custody homeless, in 2000 DHI began developing criminal justice services to help break the link between drug use and crime.
Over the years, DHI continued to respond to the ever changing needs and demands of drug misusers, securing funding for floating support services in Wiltshire and the rural areas of Bath and North East Somerset.
By 2003 DHI had 19 staff, and opened its second supported house. This 6- bed house offered housing to ex-offenders who wished to remain abstinent on release of prison, who would otherwise be homeless or inappropriately accommodated. Acorn House, a third supported house opened in 2004: a joint project with Somer Community Housing Trust, Wiltshire CC and Mendip CC, again housing ex-offenders addressing drug and alcohol problems.
2005 proved to be another highly successful year and DHI grew significantly following a successful bid to be the lead provider of drug and alcohol treatment services in South Gloucestershire, and with the establishment of Community 4; a consortium of four local organisation's working in Wiltshire to run a housing-related floating support service. Alongside its service developments, the past few years have also seen DHI develop its research capabilities, as part of the organisation's commitment to on-going development in the drug and alcohol field. This has recently led to recognition by the international drug research community, with representation of DHI research at the 2004 adn2005 International Conference on the Reduction of Drug Related Harm.
DHI are very proud of its achievements and remain committed to continue to provide a range of services that respond effectively to the needs of the community now and in the future.