Two new specialists join bpha to help customers thrive in their homes
22 October 2026
When mental health or substance use begins to put someone’s home at risk, timely, specialist support can make all the difference. We’ve recently welcomed a Specialist Mental Health Officer and a Specialist Substance Misuse Officer to help support customers who may find themselves in this situation. Star and Martin will work across bpha to strengthen the support available to customers.
Martin, our new Specialist Substance Misuse Officer, is already a familiar face at bpha, bringing extensive experience in homelessness, recovery and substance use support, including work with Hopeworks and P2R. His knowledge will help identify support that can make a lasting difference.
Star joins bpha as our Specialist Mental Health Officer, bringing experience from Mind where she supported their crisis cafés, and HM Probation Service. Using a trauma-informed approach, she will help colleagues shape support around the customers’ individual mental health needs and circumstances.
Although Martin and Star sit in the Supported Housing Team, their expertise will be available across bpha providing advice and practical support to Housing Officers and other colleagues where customers’ mental health or substance use is affecting their tenancy.
Crucially, they will help connect the dots between housing, health and support services. By building relationships with statutory services, local authorities and voluntary organisations they will help colleagues navigate the support available in the local authority areas in which we work, ensuring the right intervention is requested, at the right time depending on customer need. This could include signposting or referrals, joint visits, advocacy and coordinated plans, helping customers avoid having to navigate complex services alone.
Over the next few months, the team will be visiting our community hubs, giving customers access to information and signposting for mental health or substance misuse support.
