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In its first year of operation, a modular housing project in Ipswich has helped people move from homelessness into employment and private housing.
Why it matters: The £220,000 Hopestead Place project demonstrates how new housing solutions can provide stepping stones for homeless people rebuilding their lives.
The big picture: The development consists of two self-contained homes, known as 'pods,' located next to the Emmaus community café on Felixstowe Road. Each pod includes:
An open-plan kitchen and living room
A bathroom
A bedroom
Outdoor garden and decking
Making a difference: The project has already transformed lives in its first year. The project's first tenant, who hasn't been named, secured stable housing after homelessness, gained employment and later earned a promotion, increasing her salary and enabling her to move to private rental accommodation. She has now gone on to launch her own business.
"With an increased salary she was able to start renting privately, and now she's setting up her own business," said Staddon. "Without having that stability and dignity of her own front door, she may not have been able to take those steps."
For current resident Lewis Paterson, 47, the pod offers crucial stability after experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping following a relationship breakdown. He's found employment with Emmaus, has a place to call home, and is now working toward independent living.
"It makes a huge difference to have this space," said Paterson. "It's just for the short term, but it's a place I can call home."
What they're saying: Lucy Parish, Head of Operations at Hopestead, said: "It's not just about providing shelter - it's about offering a fresh start, and a foundation for people to move forward and achieve their goals."
"The idea is that people can live there independently, without active support, after being offered a job," added Claire Staddon, CEO of Emmaus Suffolk. "Without having that stability and dignity of her own front door, she may not have been able to take those steps."
Behind the scenes: The homes were built by Cambridgeshire charity New Meaning Foundation and funded by homelessness charity Hopestead. Human rights activist Sir Terry Waite opened the project on 10 October 2023.
What's next: Emmaus hopes to expand the scheme if a suitable site and funding can be found.
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