News / homelessness
First ‘pods’ for homeless people open
Eight tiny homes for people experiencing homelessness have opened in Bristol.
The single-person homes in St George come equipped with a kitchen, bathroom, living area and bedroom, as well as storage amenities , a washing machine and bike locking shed.
It is hoped the units will provide temporary accommodation for people new to homelessness with support needs as a ‘stepping stone’.
is needed now More than ever
The eight units are located on Derby Street in a former car park next to Church Road and Blackswarth Road junction in St George, facing onto a nursery and elderly care centre.
Each home has a fully equipped bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and living area
A specialist liaison officer will visit the properties on a daily basis, to help people living in the pods access jobs, GP services and other support systems, in the hope that after two years they will be able to leave the pods into more permanent housing.
The SoloHaus project was developed by the Hill Group, based in London, with the help of homeless people, before being acquired by Places for People, a national social housing service.
The pods are heated with a low-energy and cost-efficient air-source heat pump, keeping bills at around £5 for tenants.
Places for People’s Bristol-based complex needs team will work with Bristol City Council to oversee the project, and the council is expected to refer people to live in the pods through its homechoice scheme.
The first tenants are expected to move in at the beginning of October, and will all be above the age of 22.
The pods are the first of their kind to open in Bristol
Josh Gulliford, who works for Places for People as a service manager, said he hoped the local area would embrace the project, but recognised there may be anxieties in the community.
Places for People said they had met with local businesses in the hopes of connecting tenants to work, and the local community.
Speaking at the launch day, Bristol housing cabinet member, Tom Renhard, said he hoped the pods would be the first of many in Bristol.
He added the council was looking at utilising land that hadn’t been used to the best of its ability, or used at all, including garages and disused car parks.
There are currently over 20,000 people on the council’s housing support register waiting list, and 1,200 households living in temporary accommodation.
All photos: Mia Vines Booth
Read more:
- Construction begins on pods for Bristol’s homeless in car park
- New eye care service for homeless people to launch in Bristol
- Where should Bristol build homes in the midst of a housing crisis?
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