A HOMELESSNESS charity has announced the reopening of its flagship Edinburgh village, with the charity’s founder saying it will provide a “supportive community that restores hope and dignity”.
The charity Social Bite first set up its Edinburgh Village in Granton in 2018 as an alternative to traditional forms of temporary accommodation for homeless people.
It showcased the charity’s innovative model, which encourages the use of modular housing and communities on derelict land as an impactful and cost-effective solution to addressing the UK housing crisis.
The reopening sees the number of homes raised from 10 to 16, and the relocation of the village to a site just five minutes away, on a piece of land surrounded by greenery and with a view of the Firth of Forth.
It comes after the charity received celebrity backing from George Clooney, Bob Geldof and Rob Brydon, who visited a prototype village in April before a fundraising dinner.
Last month the charity also opened another village in Rutherglen, in partnership with South Lanarkshire Council and The Salvation Army, which has provided homes for 15 people.
Social Bite founder Josh Littlejohn said he was “thrilled” to be opening the new Edinburgh village in its “stunning waterfront location”.
“The Village model is about more than putting a roof over people’s heads – it’s about building a beautiful, supportive community that restores hope and dignity,” he said.
“Our new Granton Waterfront Village is a real flagship for this model, and I think it sets an example of how homelessness accommodation can be done differently.
“Thanks so much to all of the brilliant partners who helped bring the project to life.
“Looking ahead, we look forward to working with other councils to create Social Bite Village projects throughout the UK.”
The village will continue to be run in partnership with the homelessness charity Cyrenians, and will include six new pre-built houses, while the existing 10 houses will receive a refresh.
It will become home for 15 people who have been affected by homelessness – whether that be in B&Bs, temporary accommodation, sofa surfing, living on the streets, or one of the many other “unseen” forms of homelessness.
The six new residents joining the village will each receive a key to their own fully equipped home, complete with a self-contained kitchenette, bathroom, and living space.
The remaining 10 houses will be occupied by residents and volunteers transitioning from the original site.
The charity said as well as providing new and refreshed quality homes for its residents, it underlines how uniquely agile, and adaptable, its village model concept truly is.
The charity also highlighted the beneficial impact the village has had on the 100 or so people who lived at its previous site, with many moving on to their own homes and gaining employment.
One of those residents was Jayne, who lived in the Granton Village for two years before moving out to her own flat.
“My time at the Edinburgh Village was amazing,” she said.
“I was staying in homeless hostels and B&Bs after my mum died and it was stressful moving each week.
“There were rules and curfews with no visitors allowed, so it was lonely. I was glad to get a referral to the Village and I moved in quickly.”
She added: “The Village helped me in loads of ways – from one-on-ones with a key worker to learning to ride a bike.
“I built a friend group which knows me well and I can count on to support me. The community aspect of the Village is the thing I loved the most.”
Cyrenians will continue to manage the day-to-day running of the Village, providing on-site, wraparound support for all residents through a “unique” model of residential support.
The charity’s chief executive Kate Wallace said: “Today marks a new chapter for Edinburgh’s Social Bite Village as we move to a brand new location, with new buildings and space to help even more people.
“Over the last eight years, Cyrenians has worked with Social Bite to provide support for the residents of the Village – a unique model that doesn’t just house people, but supports them to thrive.
“Taking over from Ewan Aitken as the new chief executive of Cyrenians, I am excited to continue our successful partnership, working together to create a world where supported housing like this is available to all those who need it.”
