Charity
organisation Help Bristol's Homeless has allowed us to take a peek inside one
of the old storage containers which its team helped to transform in Bedminster.
The company
is determined in its mission to transform the lives of the homeless by
providing housing for those sleeping rough, something which it points out is
not an entitlement, 'it is a right'.
Per the
company website: "Unlike many homeless charities, our ethos is that
housing must come first, and then everything else comes after.
Credit: SWNS
"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."
These new
container homes have been fitted with a kitchen, living room, bathroom and
bedroom, and will be available as accomodation for someone who sleeps on the
streets for an entire year.
By providing
housing, it's hoped this will allow those who are sleeping rough with the
opportunity to find employment.
Credit: SWNS
Property
company Colliers International converted two of the containers in question,
making it one of a number of Bristol businesses involved in the project,
alongside EDF Energy, Barratt Homes and Balfour Beatty.
Speaking to
Bristol Live, army veteran and restaurateur Jasper Thompson - 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."
Credit: SWNS
Jasper
founded the organisation after discovering the increasing number of people
sleeping rough in Bristol, before coming up with the idea of converting the
containers into temporary housing.
Those who
are assigned a home are referred following an assessment and are given ongoing
support as part of the initiative. Jasper went on to state: "They are also
given opportunities to develop skills by helping in the conversion of the
containers into homes."
Head of
South West and Wales at Colliers International, Tim Davies, added: "Staff
in the Bristol office have always rolled up their sleeves and got involved in
Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.
Credit: 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."
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Image Credit: SWNS
This is better than my house and I work fulltime
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