Homeless sleeping pods used for 71 nights

A charity that installed sleeping pods to provide emergency accommodation said the project has shown the "varied pressures people face" when homeless.

Caritas launched the pods in December and said they have already been used for more than 71 nights since then.

It said those who had used the pods included people who had been sofa surfing or sleeping in their car, an ex-offender leaving prison with nowhere to go, and a person experiencing accommodation difficulties linked to their employment.

Caritas added that in Guernsey's "already constrained housing market", even small shifts in availability or affordability could leave people with very limited options.

The pods are solar-powered and self-contained with no need for mains services, making them deployable at short notice.

Graham Merfield, chair of Caritas, said: "Behind every night these pods are used is a person going through a difficult and uncertain time.

"Providing somewhere safe, warm and dignified to sleep, even for a short period, can make a real difference while people work towards more stable accommodation."

The charity said the pods are not a long-term answer to homelessness, but can provide a breathing space at a critical moment.

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