Homeless charity defends decision to rent out new pods
A LEADING Christian charity working with homeless people has defended its decision to rent out two ‘pods’ it has created with beds and showers on Airbnb and charge people up to £220 a night.
Emmaus, which runs charity shops around Bristol and is one of the city’s leading homelessness charities, has recently opened the pods as part of a bigger development to create new homes on the roof of its headquarters in St Pauls.
This month, the charity began advertising the two pods, which include a double bed, shower room but no kitchen, on Airbnb, but came in for criticism on social media.
The pods, which the charity has named Carmen and Delores, are built on stilts above the charity’s warehouse yard, in a spot it says is a prime one close to Lakota nightclub and Stokes Croft.
Prices for a minimum two-night stay are £264 for a weekend in December, and in May that rises to £443 for two nights.
The sleep pods are advertised as a “remarkable little spot to rest your head after enjoying the delights of Bristol, with the bars, cafes and eateries of Stokes Croft on your doorstep”.
It continues: “This is an Eco Sleep Pod, so you won’t find a wardrobe, luggage rack or air con; instead, you’ll find a small cupboard for storage, a heater for winter visits and we’ve upcycled donated items to make coat hooks for your wall,” they added.
The charity came in for criticism on social media for advertising the two pods on Airbnb.
Michael Rogers tweeted: “Do you think homelessness could be anything to do with properties being built to generate income, not to actually house people in permanent homes? Why not build these facilities to house the homeless?” he asked.
But Emmaus defended its decision to rent out the pods.
In 2020, the charity got planning permission to build 15 ‘eco-homes’ on the roof of its office building at Backfields House, to create what it described as a new ‘rooftop community’.
“The main motivation behind the initiative is to provide affordable homes for people who are ready to move out of our supported housing,” chief executive Jessica Hodge said at the time.
“When someone joins our Emmaus Bristol community, they work full-time in our shops to gain new skills and build up their CV, and receive daily support, mentoring and training so they can rebuild their life.”
The two ‘sleep pods’ are a separate smaller development and Emmaus said they would not be suitable for someone to live in permanently.
“They’ll be used to provide long-term financial support for residents. They don’t take from housing stock and are too small for living in so provide a holiday option that isn’t a potential home,” they added.