A BRADFORD homelessness charity has a new chief executive officer at its helm.

Bradford solicitor Ruth Davison, 35, took over the role at Hope Housing at the start of this month.

A specialist in family law, she has also been a chairman of a domestic abuse charity in Leeds and now replaces Hope Housing's previous CEO Adam Clark who gave up the post to go travelling for a year .

"I wanted a new challenge to try and help the most vulnerable people in society and this was my opportunity," said Miss Davison, who graduated from law at Sheffield University.

Her daily responsibility will be managing the organisation basis and overseeing the strategic development alongside its trustees.

A recent recruitment drive means a number of new trustees will be joining its board soon, she said.

The charity has also started a review of its services by meeting with staff and trustees to focus on its performance as an organisation and what direction it needs to take next, as part of that it will also be looking closely at the type of people who have been coming to them for help.

Miss Davison said: "Last year we opened our crisis assessment centre and have been offering 20 beds this winter to people who otherwise would not have had one, we follow it up with support for their needs. We will be making sure we maintain this service and make sure it is not lost."

The charity is keen to invest in social enterprise, she said and added: "There's a lot of hard work ahead but I'm looking forward to it."

Hope Housing has been working with homeless people in Bradford since November 2008 developing several services to help eradicate homelessness in the city.

It also runs a hosting project to house homeless people in volunteers’ homes around Bradford on a night by night basis providing emergency accommodation to 26-year-olds and above.

And it has partnered with several churches to offer supported tenancies to people who have been homeless.

Housing associations and charities, including Green Pastures and Incommunities, have all partnered with it in the past and support for the tenants is given by volunteers from local churches who are trained and supported by Hope Housing itself.

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