Mini village for homeless opens its doors to first residents

A NEW village has opened to provide stable accommodation to homeless people.

Social Bite Village launched yesterday in Granton, Edinburgh to provide a place to live and support for up to 20 people.

The project, believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, is made up of 10 two-bed huts with a central hub where residents can socialise and admire views over the Firth of Forth.

Josh Littlejohn, Social Bite co-founder, said: “It feels amazing to see it come to life like this, it’s been a lot of hard work from the build team.

“To see the whole thing come together, it’s really humbling.”

The transportable Nesthouses were designed by Jonathan Avery of Tiny House Scotland, comprising of a kitchen/living area, bathroom, two bedrooms and shrubbery outside.

They are built on a 1.5-acre site of vacant council land which has been given to Social Bite on a “meanwhile use” basis, meaning it can be used until the land needs to be developed.

Six residents will move in to the village in June, but it is hoped this will build up to around 20.

No one with ongoing addiction issues or with “dual diagnosis” will be allowed.

Tenancies are expected to last a year to 18 months.

Picture: Gordon Terris „ Social Bite founder Josh Littlejohn at the opening of the new Social Bite Village for the homeless in Granton in Edinburgh yesterday.

„ A view of Nesthouses at the Social Bite Village in Granton yesterday.

„ Former homeless man Sunny Murray.

„ Inside of one of the Nesthouses.