Claire Staddon, Emmaus Suffolk CEO, at Hopestead Place in Ipswich
An innovative modular home project designed to help people build new lives following homelessness have been hailed as a success, one year following its opening.
Claire Staddon, CEO of the charity Emmaus Suffolk, described Hopestead Place in Ipswich as “incredible”.
Mrs Staddon said: “The idea is that people can live there independently, without active support, after being offered a job. The first tenant stayed for six months, and then she was promoted at work. “With an increased salary she was able to start renting privately, and now she’s setting up her own business.
“Without having that stability and dignity of her own front door, she may not have been able to take those steps.”
Hopestead Place resident Lewis Paterson and Emmaus Suffolk CEO Claire Staddon
The two homes – also called ‘pods’ – were built by Cambridgeshire charity New Meaning Foundation, before being moved into position next to the Emmaus’ community café, the Royal Oak, in Felixtowe Road.
The £220,000 project was funded and furnished by homelessness charity Hopestead – part of Flagship Group – as part of its ‘Building Hope’ campaign. It was opened by human rights activist Sir Terry Waite to mark World Homelessness Day on October 10, 2023.
The pods each have an open-plan kitchen and living room, bathroom, bedroom, outdoor garden and decking.
Human rights activist Sir Terry Waite and Hopestead CEO Marie-Claire Delbrouque cut a ribbon at the opening of Hopestead Place
Current Hopestead Place resident Lewis Paterson, 47, said the scheme had helped him turn his life around.
“It makes a huge difference to have this space,” Mr Paterson said. “It’s just for the short term, but it’s a place I can call home.”
Mr Paterson went through homelessness – including a period of sleeping rough – after a long-term relationship breakdown. He moved into one of the pods after finding a job with Emmaus.
Lucy Parish, Head of Operations at Hopestead, said Hopestead Place showed how innovative housing solutions could make a real difference in people’s lives.
She said: “It’s not just about providing shelter – it’s about offering a fresh start, and a foundation for people to move forward and achieve their goals.” Mrs Staddon said Emmaus would love to expand the scheme if the right site – and the funding – could be found.
She added: “It’s a rare treat to work with [Hopestead], a group that’s brave and innovative and puts its money where its mouth is.”