The purpose of the corporation is to promote effective community responses to the housing and emergency shelter needs of low and middle income groups in the City of Bristol. This is accomplished through social planning, advocacy, negotiations, and action involving those bodies capable of addressing housing and emergency shelter needs and those groups or individuals in need of housing and emergency shelter. The purpose is also to provide housing for the homeless and to operate such housing as well as provide auxiliary services to aid the homeless to acquire housing and help them to improve their lives.