Nine self-contained ‘Sleeper Pods’ have been installed at a former surface-level car park in Bolton, providing temporary shelter for some of the most vulnerable homeless people this winter.
The pods, which are compact and functional, are provided to help rough sleepers who have complex needs, to take a first step back, before moving into more traditional accommodation where they can rebuild their lives.
The council is providing wrap around support and security, which includes 24-hour security and CCTV coverage.
The planning application for the test site was passed at a Planning Committee hearing on November 6, with the pods being installed the following week ready for use over the winter through to March 31 – after which the initiative will be reviewed to see if it can be utilised in other areas.
The initiative is linked to the council’s statutory Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) responsibilities and has been put in place to support a cohort of vulnerable people who currently find themselves outside of the mainstream housing system.
The approach is similar to that employed by projects in Blackburn with Darwen, where sleeper pods have successfully supported rough sleepers into stable housing.
The costs to society of supporting homeless people is huge, typically costing the NHS £4,298, mental health services £2,099, and the criminal justice system £11,991 for each person who has been homeless for three months or more.
Estimates suggest there are more than one in three working families in the UK just one lost pay packet away from being unable to pay for their accommodation.
Those aged under 25 yrs are particularly at risk of becoming homeless, although it can affect everyone who typically experience changes to finances, relationship breakdowns, domestic abuse and violence.
Those who end up living rough on the streets can face serious challenges with their safety, physical and mental health, and are at greater risk of alcohol and substance misuse.
The Sleeper Pods act as a ‘stepping stone’ to help the homeless get into permanent housing, providing a safe place where they receive intensive social adjustment support over a six-to-ten-week period.
