Homebase helps Brighton shipping container residents furnish their new homes

Home improvement chain Homebase is helping the new residents of 36 shipping containers in Brighton to furnish them when they move in next month.

Brighton Housing Trust (BHT), the housing and homelessness charity behind the shipping containers project, welcomed the help.

It said that Homebase, which uses shipping containers in its adverts, was handing over a starter pack for each new home.

The starter packs include beds, wardrobes, chests of drawers, bedside cabinets and kitchen and other household equipment.

The shipping containers, provided by QED Property, will house 36 people for five years in New England Road by the corner of New England Street near Preston Circus in Brighton.

Andy Winter inspects one of the new shipping containers

BHT chief executive Andy Winter said: “These are more than shipping containers.

“They have been converted into housing, and with the support of Homebase, these houses are being converted into homes.

“Thirty six men and women are having their homes furnished and equipped to a high standard.

“The focus on this development to date has been on the shell provided by the shipping containers.

“We can now focus on the experience of our tenants who will be getting their own homes.

“It is an amazing thing that is being achieved by QED Property, Homebase and Brighton Housing Trust.

“There is an acute shortage of affordable accommodation in Brighton and Hove.

“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 now is more likely to be close to 100.

“This development will give people an address and a stable base from which they can go to college, get training and voluntary work which will help them to get a job.

“All this put together will help people leave homelessness behind them forever.”

Graham Heald, retail and distribution director at Homebase, said: “We are delighted to be supporting this creative initiative which is supporting the local community with short-term affordable accommodation.

“Although this isn’t a long-term solution for homelessness, we believe that everyone deserves to live in a home they love, and so we’re providing starter packs to each tenant which enables them to do just that.

“By providing furniture, tenants will have a ready-made home waiting for them to move into that will provide a comfortable and stable environment in their day to day lives.”