WHEN Bradford Day Shelter started out, in the crypt of a church in 1976, it provided solace for a growing number of homeless people on the city's streets.

But, while hot meals were served up during the day, by tea-time the door was closed, leaving people in need with nowhere to go.

By 1982 the day shelter had moved to larger premises and its services included a midday meal, bathing and laundry facilities, medical care and housing and welfare advice.

Homelessness remained the overriding problem for shelter users and with many facing problems such as mental health issues and alcoholism, they had difficulty finding accommodation suitable for their needs.

In 1983 the Day Shelter began negotiations with Church Housing Association, with the aim of providing hostels and group homes for shelter users needing care and support as part of housing requirements.

Two years later, Horton Housing Association was established to develop and manage the Day Shelter's accommodation programme.

This year is the 30th anniversary of the association and today it provides a range of services, from drugs and alcohol recovery to senior citizens' drop-in sessions. This year sees its 30th anniversary, and its integrated support service has been nominated for a national award for specialist housing needs.

Much has changed since Horton Housing chief executive Paul Gartland started working at a Bradford Moor hostel three decades ago.

He was a professional footballer until a broken leg ended his days on the pitch. With a degree in PE, he embarked on quite a different career.

"The hostel was looking for a warden with a brief to do some PE with the lads there. That took me into working with vulnerable people," said Mr Gartland, whose experiences as a hostel support worker made him realise homelessness is closer to home than we may like to think.

"It really opened my eyes. I saw how it could happen to anyone.

"There are many myths and prejudices surrounding homeless and vulnerable people. In reality it can take just a few steps to end up in difficulty - whether it's losing a job, suffering an illness, a relationship breakdown, or an addiction."

During his 27 years at Horton Housing there has been a vast expansion of services, a growth in numbers of people using them, and a significant shift in the client base.

"In the early days we gave shelter to people not provided for by the local authority, namely single men, often itinerants, who wouldn't be considered a priority," he said. "Now our clients include a lot more migrants, younger people, and women, all with complex problems.

"Previously there were more alcohol-related issues, now it's more substance misuse, including legal highs. There has been an increase in women with drug and alcohol problems. A lot of it is linked to benefit sanctions.

"Migrants often come here with false promise of a job; many have been trafficked and don't have documents so they can't get work. There's a big street drinking culture among migrants."

Bradford Day Shelter remains a first port of call for many people who are homeless or in substandard housing. In 1996 the association was granted £609,000 lottery funding for a major refurbishment of its Edmund Street premises. As well as serving hot meals, the shelter provides support for housing issues and alcohol and substance abuse.

But the housing association's services reach further across the district and surrounding areas, including North Yorkshire, Calderdale and Kirklees. What started as a soup kitchen has become one of the region's major providers of specialist support and housing, helping diverse communities including older people, teenage parents, refugees, people with learning disabilities, people coming out of prison and the armed forces, and gypsy and traveller communities.

"With such a wide range of client groups, we work with various statutory and voluntary agencies," said Mr Gartland.

"A lot of older people are scared to go out, and we can assist with that. We provide face-to-face support, group activities and drop-ins. We go into sheltered accommodation and engage people in activities.

"With teenage parents we try to help them build a relationship with their families, and get them access to housing and health services."

A key aim for Horton Housing is employability.

"We provide training and build life skills and confidence," he said. "It's about getting people into the routine of turning up for work and dressing and behaving appropriately. We build trust, and we don't write anyone off."

From the original hostel came 11 units around Bradford, where people live temporarily while they re-build their lives. Now there are 102, from a shared house to self-contained flats.

The association’s hospital to home scheme - Bradford Respite and Integrated Care and Support Service (BRICSS) - is one of the first of its kind in the country. Run in partnership with Bevan Healthcare CIC, and working with hospitals, primary care and community organisations, the Grattan Road property has 14 beds and a shared kitchen for people leaving hospital who are homeless or living somewhere inadequate.

"It's comfortable, secure and peaceful - a place to recuperate," said Mr Gartland. "Clients stay between six and eight weeks before moving to suitable housing."

With homeless people six times more likely to access healthcare through Accident and Emergency, and stay in hospital three times as long, the scheme is a lifeline for those struggling with illness on the streets. It breaks the circle of being stuck in hospital or quickly re-admitted.

“It saves lives," he said. "You can't address anything until you have safe accommodation. By providing this tailored support, we save thousands of pounds which would otherwise be spent on lengthy hospital stays."

An independent report found that more than £280,000 had been saved through BRICSS.

Clients access GP, nursing and mental health care and other services to help them move on to longer-term accommodation. The scheme was set up in December, 2013 with funding from the Department of Health’s Homeless Hospital Discharge fund. Other funding comes through rent and health input funded by Bradford Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs).

Clients include an elderly man admitted to hospital with severe burns after falling out of bed on to an oil heater in a property not fit to live in. When he was discharged, there were concerns that he would not cope, leading to a future hospital admission. After moving into BRICSS, he received help registering with a GP, claiming benefits and attending appointments, and is on a waiting list for sheltered accommodation.

After 27 years, Mr Gartland said he finds his work as rewarding as the day he started coaching PE at the old Bradford Moor hostel.

"We're facing challenges at the moment; a lot of our funding has been squeezed and massive cuts have been made to our sector. But we're continuing to make a difference," he said.

"There's something special about helping people re-build their lives, re-uniting them with family and getting them into accommodation and employment.

"People who have been through our services are now employed here, it's good to have that life experience on board."