Charity searching for land for container which will house a Leeds homeless person by Christmas

The charity is hoping it can house a homeless person by Christmas in the city’s first container home but needs a plot of land to do so and is calling for help.

The project was started by charity director and homelessness campaigner Haydn Lee Jessop who was also behind Leeds’ first tent city - which had to be suspended due to Covid-19.

The charity has had donations of labour and material from tradesmen and hopes its first occupant will be in by Christmas.

The container will provide living space for one person for six months to a year during which Vulnerable Citizen Support will provide employability training, support with looking for jobs or liaison with other agencies that can help with permanent housing.

Haydn said: “It would be incredible if we could make someone’s Christmas by getting them off the streets and into the first container home, giving them a fresh start for the new year.

“We want to offer people a second shot at a stable life as often someone has just taken one wrong turn but once you’re homeless or sleeping on the streets it’s virtually impossible to rebuild without support.

“These container homes will provide temporary respite, which combined with our help to get a job or rehabilitation support, will help people to permanently rebuild their lives.”

The charity hopes to have ten or more container homes to build a community and help to alleviate the homeless crisis Leeds.

Haydn founded Vulnerable Citizen Support after rebuilding his own life following a short prison sentence in 2013 as he wanted to help give others a second chance too.

For any help with land, services or cash donations, Haydn at Vulnerable Citizen support can be contacted at [email protected].