Caritas is ramping up its efforts to help the Guernsey’s homeless with plans to bring two emergency sleeping pods over for immediate use.
The charity is already working on longer term plans to create a modular housing community of 24 units to help those at risk of homelessness, but the new plan will help people immediately.
The emergency sleeping pod project will be quite quick to deliver, said the charity – but it needs to find a small site to put them.
The Chairman of Caritas said their work has become increasingly urgent as they’ve become increasingly aware of the growing number of people sofa surfing, sleeping in vehicles or outdoors.
“Since launching our modular community project last September, we’ve been contacted throughout the winter by individuals with nowhere safe to sleep,” said Graham Merfield.
“While still progressing with our modular project, this practical initiative aims to provide short-term emergency accommodation for those with no alternative.”
As stated, Caritas is still working to secure land for a larger modular housing community, but the new initiative offers a “simple but life-changing response for those with nowhere safe to sleep”, Mr Merfield said.
The pods that Caritas will be bringing to the island are compact, secure, self-contained units. They are solar-powered, and don’t need to be connected to mains services. Each will take up roughly the same footprint as a small garden shed.
Mr Merfield said Caritas is ready to install two pods immediately — as soon as a suitable temporary site is found.
Anyone who has space, or a suggestion, can contact Mr Merfield and the Caritas team via office@caritas.org.gg or through social media.
The site needed for the pods must be a “safe, flat space”. It could be in a car park, a corner of private land, or any accessible outdoor area.
The charity is open to conversations with both public and private landowners, and even short-term use would make a real difference.
The sleeping pods themselves are designed by UK charity ‘Amazing Grace Spaces’.
They’ve already been used in cities like Sheffield, through organisations like the Salvation Army, to provide secure, warm shelter for people with no other housing options.