After eight failed attempts, Matt Wiseman doesn't know what changed on his ninth detox attempt. But it worked that time. That's why, 12 years later, he emphasizes understanding and patience as key elements when working with homeless people, many of whom struggle with mental health and addiction issues. “Never give up, that's what I learned,” he said. That's why we visited the modest offices of Jimmy's Cambridge, an NGO in the English town of the same name. This is the philosophy of life that has turned this small nonprofit organization into a social laboratory of innovation. That pioneering project consists of his four small-scale housing developments of modular tiny houses. The 22 independent homes are each 270 square feet and fully furnished, with bathrooms, kitchens, and front porches. These homes form a community for homeless people and serve as a step toward regaining control of their lives with support and supervision from Jimmy's Cambridge.
Factory-built, modular, and ready-to-transport housing is now a common solution to homelessness. Around 900,000 people are homeless in Europe, an increase of 70% since 2000, according to the European Federation of National Organizations Supporting the Homeless (FEANTSA). In the United States, the number is about 653,000, the highest since 2007. Since 2019, Barcelona City Council has been providing temporary accommodation for the homeless in apartments made from recycled shipping containers. Similarly, the Hilda L. Solis Care First Village was built in Ross. Angeles during the pandemic. Built out of shipping containers, the 132-room property offers support services along with a fully equipped commercial kitchen.
Shipping containers still have negative connotations, but Cambridge's project is different. Built with laminated wood, this home offers independent living in a downtown area close to services and jobs. This is very important for a variety of reasons, including owning a pet. Social workers in Madrid say homeless people often avoid shelters in favor of keeping dogs and cats with them.
“In a city where there's a lot of pressure to build new homes and space is limited, the key is to take advantage of the little space available to build those homes. And in five years? In 10 years, we'll be able to use cranes to lift modular homes and move them to new locations,” said Mark Allan, CEO of Jimmy's Cambridge.
Alan doesn't know where or how the tiny house idea was born. He simply states that it arose from a fortuitous convergence of different organizations that were in the right place at the right time. An NGO was looking for a way to quickly provide affordable housing in the expensive city of Cambridge. Another NGO, Aria, focused on innovative solutions for socially impactful companies and organizations. The New Meaning Foundation is a social enterprise specializing in ethical construction, and Redeemer Christ Church had vacant land. “Nothing happens in isolation. It's all about communities coming together,” Alan said.
And so, in 2020, our first tiny home community was born. Three further communities were subsequently developed on land donated by Cambridge City Council and with homes donated by London's Hill Group. The first development includes his six homes east of Cambridge, near the airport. Each home has a front entrance and, unlike later developments, also shares a spacious front garden. Independence is key. The ability to open and close doors yourself is very powerful. But so is the ability to connect with others and avoid isolation. “The smaller the number of units, the more [three developments with six houses and one with four] It’s actually better that way because it helps create a mini-community spirit,” Alan said. “And it's very important to have a common area. That's where the big garden comes in. It's a place where people can hang out and get to know each other. The first development was really spot on. It’s not just about tearing down a bunch of houses.”
In reality, it's about finding a balance, and that includes dealing with the negative aspects of homelessness. “It's really sad when you see someone doing really well, but you also know that it's going to be tough on them. If the module next to the other module isn't doing so well, they're going to struggle. We're still looking for an answer to that, and we haven't found it yet,” Wiseman said. He has been involved with the project since the beginning and now leads the team working with residents. He firmly believes that once everything is resolved, the project will be a spectacular success.
But Wiseman knows success won't come easy. He has seen tenants forced to move because drug traffickers prey on vulnerable people. One was evicted for attacking his neighbor. Despite their best efforts, some people struggle to overcome their addiction. “The power of addiction never ceases to amaze me,” sighs Wiseman. “Crack is one of the worst drugs because there is no pharmacological replacement.”
Wiseman has seen three residents successfully transition into their own apartments, and others are doing so. Some people have found stability in these small homes and have chosen to continue living there. Experts from the Cambridge Center for Housing Planning and Research, who evaluated the project, said: “Flexibility in tenancy periods…extending beyond the initial two years will give residents, especially those with high needs, more time. “We recommend that you ensure that the Please correct the situation before proceeding. ”
The Cambridge Center report also recommends that mini-developments have shared green space and praises the NGO's pre-lease process for assessing the suitability of candidates. “It's not easy to follow all the rules at first,” Wiseman said. “For example, tenants must be home by 11 p.m., which means they lose money. Peak panhandling hours in Cambridge are from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. .Can carry up to 200 lbs. [$255] one day!
Residents must also apply for welfare to pay their 200 euros (about $218) a week in rent, and may also be required to pay maintenance fees of about 11 euros (about $12) a week. The NGO makes the necessary arrangements, pays the workers and covers all bills (water, electricity, television, CCTV). Jimmy's Cambridge staff assist in this process, but some long-term street dwellers can feel overwhelmed by the new responsibilities. Therefore, an intermediate evacuation phase that gradually introduces rules and responsibilities has proven to be extremely beneficial.
Trevor, who lived in his first tiny house for over three years, followed this path. After losing his wife and son in a car accident in 1999, Trevor's life went into a downward spiral. He started using drugs and turned to crime to survive. He spent several times in prison and many nights on the street. But everything changed when he met Carol Fendyk of Jimmy's Cambridge. After spending 18 months in one of the shelters, Trevor moved into a small house. He regained his independence, resumed his carpentry business and found a way to stay clean. Trevor, now 63, plans to give his small house away to someone in need.
Carol Fendyk, who rescued Trevor from the streets, now manages Jimmy's 451, a residence for people with complex mental health and addiction issues. Her caring yet firm demeanor is evident as she patiently reminds her former substance abuse resident of her can't-miss doctor's appointment. Fendick, Wiseman and Allan said getting psychological and psychiatric help while battling addiction is a challenge for many people, but is essential to overcoming these struggles. Ta.
Experts say childhood abuse, violence and trauma often lead to homelessness and make life on the streets worse with each passing day. “Our goal is to get people off the streets as quickly as possible and give them all the support they need to resolve whatever it was that got them there,” Alan said. In what some are calling a 'global housing crisis', Jimmy's Cambridge approach is simple. “Try, try again.” This includes providing shelter, shared housing, and even “abstinence homes” for people just coming out of detox. Modular mini-houses are their latest initiative, but they know this alone may not fully address the complex problem of homelessness. Nevertheless, they offer a viable alternative that has proven effective for some people even on the ninth try.
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