“They’re so warm and welcoming, they don’t make you feel homeless and as if you’re desolate on the streets.”
Emma, 44, has recently moved into one of nine new “sleeper pods” installed in a former car park on the edge of Bolton town centre.
The compact units, which have a bedroom, bathroom and shower, are giving rough sleepers a safe place for the winter while providing a “stepping stone” to more permanent housing.
“They are brilliant. It’s been a godsend to be honest,” said Emma who has been homeless since she was evicted from her flat in March.
“It was -7C recently and it would’ve been absolutely freezing out on the streets but with the electric heating, I look forward to coming back here,” she said.
Emma was renting from a housing association landlord for 10 years but admitted she struggled to stay in her former home because of poor mental health and other personal issues.
“I didn’t help myself but sometimes I don’t feel I got the help I needed,” she said.
Emma has spent the past eight months living on the streets, including a short time sleeping in a small van.
“Sometimes you’d be begging on the streets hoping to get enough money to travel to Manchester to stay in a hostel,” she said.
“I never intended to lose my home but getting this pod has made me realise I don’t ever want that to happen again.”
The pods have 24-hour-security and Bolton Council is offering the residents mental health and drug support as well as counselling and healthcare.
Emma said the sleeper pod had offered her a “fresh start” and she said she hopes it will eventually lead her back to a more permanent home.
“I want to be a part of Bolton and the local community again,” she said.
“It’s given me hope. I want to be able to move on.”
‘Real difference’
The sleeper pods will be in use until March 2026 when Bolton Council will evaluate how successful they have been.
Councillor Sean Fielding, executive member for adults and community housing at Bolton Council, said the project could continue and be expanded if needed.
“With the wraparound support that the council and our partners in the voluntary sector will be providing, we are hopeful we can make a real difference to the small number of people that have no choice but to sleep rough,” he said.
“Ultimately I would like to see a situation where we don’t need these pods because we’ve helped people into mainstream accommodation.
“It’s about improving the lives of some of our most vulnerable residents.”
He added: “We want to give them a better quality of life.”