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Shipping Containers Are Being Turned Into Homes For The Homeless

Shipping Containers Are Being Turned Into Homes For The Homeless

Shipping containers in Bristol are being transformed into housing for the city's homeless population by 'Help Bristol's Homeless' charity.

Amelia Jones

Amelia Jones

Some good news for once: a number of shipping containers in Bristol have been transformed into housing to help out and put up the city's homeless population.

'Help Bristol's Homeless', the charity behind the scheme, has given a sneak peek inside one of the former storage containers in Bedminster, which its team helped to transform.

The charity is on a mission to transform the lives of Bristol's growing number of homeless people by providing housing for those sleeping rough, something which it points out is "a right" and not a privilege.

SWNS

According to the charity's website: "Unlike many homeless charities, our ethos is that housing must come first, and then everything else comes after.

"Many complex factors can lead to homelessness, and while it is true that these issues need to be resolved to keep people off the street, we believe that the priority must be to get people into safe, stable and comfortable accommodation.

"From there, we can help them to improve their own lives and reach their potential."

Formerly shipping containers, the smart new homes have been transformed and equipped with a kitchen, living room, bathroom and bedroom, and will be available as accommodation for anyone who's been sleeping on the streets for a year or more.

It hopes that by providing a fixed address for homeless people, it can help people who've been sleeping rough to find employment and hold onto it.

A number of companies have been involved in the work with property company, Colliers International, converting two of the containers and EDF Energy, Barratt Homes and Balfour Beatty also taking part.

SWNS

Speaking to Bristol Live, Jasper Thompson, an army veteran and restaurateur who founded Help Bristol's Homeless in 2017, said: "Colliers has been fantastic. Without their help there would be two more people sleeping on the streets.

"We are so grateful to all of the businesses involved in this project, which are helping to improve the lives of rough sleepers."

Jasper founded the organisation with hopes of converting containers into temporary housing after seeing more and more people sleeping rough in Bristol.

SWNS

Following an assessment, homeless people are offered homes and are then given continuing support as part of the initiative.

Jasper explained: "They are also given opportunities to develop skills by helping in the conversion of the containers into homes."

"Staff in the Bristol office have always rolled up their sleeves and got involved in Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives," explained Tim Davies, Head of South West and Wales of Colliers International.

SWNS

"This ambitious project takes that to a new level, as by helping to transform former shipping containers into temporary homes Colliers staff will also be helping to transform the lives of homeless people in Bristol."

Visit their JustGiving page or visit their website to donate towards more homes for Bristol's homeless.

Featured Image Credit: SWNS

Topics: Life News, News, Life