Brighton charity’s shipping containers for the homeless due to arrive next week

A Brighton charity’s plans to house homeless people in shipping containers has taken another step forward.

The containers are due to arrive in the town in a week’s time.

Brighton Housing Trust (BHT) and the developer QED Estates said today (Monday 14 October) that the first of the converted shipping containers should arrive on site next Monday (21 October).

The converted containers will provide temporary homes in New England Road, Brighton, for 36 men and women with a history of homelessness.

Ross Gilbert, from QED, said: “We expect residents to be moving in about five weeks after the arrival of the first container on site and turn this exciting and innovative housing concept into reality.

“Our temporary use of land earmarked for future regeneration demonstrates just what can be done in the interim to help solve the acute housing shortage”

BHT chief executive Andy Winter said: “This is an exciting moment in this project to provide 36 new homes for men and women in housing need.

“We have identified 21 of the first 36 residents and they are being prepared to move into their new homes.

“The residents will have completed one of BHT’s programme for change and will free up space in other services that will be able to take in men and women who are currently on the streets.

“There is an acute shortage of affordable accommodation in Brighton and Hove and, in a landlords’ market, particularly for those with a history of homelessness.

“The number of street homeless people in the city has increased from 37 in November 2011 to 43 in November 2012.

“However, there is a wide consensus that the actual figure is more likely to be between 70 and 100.”