SCOTTISH social enterprise Social Bite has today announced plans to build a purpose-built ten-house village for those without a home.
In partnership with EDI Group and City of Edinburgh Council, Social Bite plans accommodation in Granton, Edinburgh, for up to 20 homeless people for around 12 months each. The first residents will move in by the summer.
The residents will be people who are currently living in mostly unsupported temporary accommodation, shelters, and B&Bs. Social Bite’s experience has shown that people living in these circumstances need support to break the cycle of homelessness.
After 12 months residents will be supported into permanent accommodation and offered employment in the company’s broader business and partners. After 12 months another 20 residents will be welcomed into the village.
According to City of Edinburgh Council it currently costs an average of £17,155 to house a person in temporary accommodation per year. By housing 20 people, the village will save the council almost £200,000 a year. £7,500 will be claimed in housing benefit for each resident.
Business leaders will sleep-out on December 15 in Edinburgh to kick-start the campaign for the £500,000 needed to set up the project. Donations can be made at www.bit.ly/SocialVillage Co-founder Josh Littlejohn says: “I’m not for a minute saying that Social Bite alone will eradicate homelessness. But we can create a blueprint.Working alongside other homelessness charities, we can help end the vicious cycle of homelessness for the individuals that we work with.”
Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, said: “I have seen first-hand how Social Bite can transform people’s lives. I believe the Social Bite Village will also be an innovative example of how we can better utilise derelict and underdeveloped land with temporary solutions, like the ‘Tiny Houses’ used in this project. As well as helping the homeless, I hope the Social Bite Village project can inspire other similarly imaginative housing initiatives across Scotland.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here