Four more modular homes opened in Cambridge by Hill, Jimmy’s and council
Four former rough sleepers have been allocated their own modular homes thanks to housebuilder Hill and Cambridge City Council, owner of the land in Chesterton the homes are on.
The brand new constructions have been donated to, and are managed by, local homelessness charity Jimmy’s, which works with the council and other local organisations to provide support and accommodation to people who need it most.
The modular homes are the first to be completed as part of Hill’s Foundation 200 programme, launched in 2019, to mark the company’s 20th anniversary. The £12m initiative will help provide a solution to homelessness by delivering 200 specially designed and fully-equipped modular homes over the next five years. Hill will be donating more homes in the future in Cambridge on other council-owned sites.
Each individual home was built in a British factory and delivered fully furnished to the site in Chesterton. They are designed to Future Homes Standards and built with a BOPAS (Buildoffsite Property Assurance Scheme) accreditation, to last 60 years with safety and security in mind, featuring steel frames and walls, blue roofs and acoustic and thermal insulation that exceeds building regulations. The homes have running costs of less than £5 a week and are furnished, fully equipped and ready to move into.
Cllr Richard Johnson, executive councillor for housing, said: “It’s wonderful to see residents moving into their own purpose-built homes before Christmas. These modular homes are a real game-changer for tackling rough sleeping and homelessness, and we are delighted with the first results of this ongoing project with Hill and Jimmy’s that will give more of our homeless residents a fresh start and a place to call their own.”
The residents moving into the modular homes will live there temporarily as a stepping stone to more permanent forms of accommodation. Jimmy’s will provide comprehensive support to help them settle in and integrate fully with the local community.
Each individual home was built in a British factory and delivered fully furnished to the site in Chesterton. They are designed to Future Homes Standards and built with a BOPAS (Buildoffsite Property Assurance Scheme) accreditation, to last 60 years with safety and security in mind, featuring steel frames and walls, blue roofs and acoustic and thermal insulation that exceeds building regulations. The homes have running costs of less than £5 a week and are furnished, fully equipped and ready to move into.
Hill designed the modular homes in partnership with a number of leading homelessness charities, to ensure that they can meet the needs of homeless clients who may not have had continuous accommodation for some years.
Tom Hill, regional director at Hill, said: “This is a very special moment for Hill and all the consultants, suppliers and trades who have generously donated materials and time to our programme to make a real difference to people who have been homeless.
“Cambridge City Council and Jimmy’s have provided invaluable support to make this happen and we wish the first residents moving in the very best for the future.”
Mark Allan, chief executive of Jimmy’s Cambridge, added: “Building high-quality homes of this kind is a pioneering approach to tackling homelessness in the UK. We are very grateful to both Hill for donating the homes to Jimmy’s and to the council for providing the land. Giving someone a home is one of the most life-changing things you can do for someone, and these four new homes have the power to change the lives of four people for the better.
“Jimmy’s has remained open 24/7 throughout the pandemic, with our services still operating – a combination of a fantastic, committed team of staff and volunteers, and the support of local people, organisations and businesses.”
Jimmy’s and the council have worked with a range of partners throughout the year to deliver support for people faced with homelessness. Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March, the council has made 200 offers of emergency accommodation to people as part of its work to find longer-term solutions for all vulnerably-housed Cambridge residents.
At the peak of the pandemic, more than 140 people were placed in free accommodation with daily food deliveries. More than 70 people have since moved into longer-term housing, while around 60 remain in emergency accommodation. Six modular homes were made available to Jimmy’s during the summer, after a year-long project recorded by the Cambridge Independent.
As in previous years, the council has also in place extra help for winter under the Severe Weather Emergency Provision (SWEP). SWEP is implemented at 36 hours’ notice when the weather turns colder and it is funded by the city council.
