Shipping Container Homes: A Temporary Solution Amidst a Housing Crisis
As the UK grapples with a national shortage of social housing, local authorities are increasingly turning to unconventional solutions for accommodating homeless families. An investigation by i News has shed light on this pressing issue, revealing the growing trend of placing families in converted shipping containers and prefabricated steel modular homes. In towns like Caversham, Reading, these makeshift homes are now a reality for many families desperately in need of shelter.
The Rise of Modular Housing
In 2017, Caversham saw the establishment of an estate featuring 28 modular homes constructed from flat sheet steel clad in timber. These homes were originally intended to provide temporary accommodation for families facing homelessness while they awaited more permanent housing solutions. However, for some families, like Sarah*, 21, the promise of short-term refuge has turned into a much longer stay.
Life in Caversham’s Modular Homes
Sarah has lived in her one-bedroom modular home for over two years, sharing the limited space with her four-year-old son. Her relocation to Caversham in March 2018 was meant to be a temporary measure. “I was told we would be moved within six months,” Sarah recalls, expressing her frustrations about the promise of stability that remains unfulfilled. Lockdown intensified the challenges she faced, aggravating her mental health and isolating her from her family who live just a few miles away.
Sarah’s experience reflects broader issues within the modular housing concept. Despite being “adequately housed,” the lack of adequate social interaction and the absence of a proper garden for her son to play have compounded her challenges. The financial burden of living in such conditions is also notable. Limited access to larger supermarkets means that shopping for essentials becomes a logistical ordeal, often involving expensive taxi rides just to carry groceries home.
Health Concerns: Mould and Overcrowding
The conditions within these modular homes raise significant health concerns. Sarah has encountered persistent dampness and mould, with the council suggesting inadequate solutions like avoiding indoor drying of clothes. For families with children, this advice can seem impossible to follow, especially in a unit without a garden. The presence of mould has had serious implications; Sarah has had to begin using her asthma inhaler again, and her son has faced multiple health issues since moving in.
Rebecca*, another resident of the Caversham estate living with four children, corroborates the concerns around living conditions. Overcrowding in her two-bedroom unit makes life stressful, especially during lockdown. She describes the environment as challenging, albeit grateful for the roof over her head. The modular homes, despite being “really warm” thanks to internal air conditioning, come with their own set of struggles, particularly due to the space constraints.
The Council’s Response to Housing Needs
In light of the housing crisis, the Reading Council has defended its use of modular accommodation as a necessary response to overwhelming demands. “These are not shipping containers. They are custom-built modular accommodation built in 2017 to very specific standards,” a spokesperson clarified. They argued that these homes play a critical role in preventing families from falling into longer-term homelessness.
Back in 2016, Reading struggled with nearly 150 families living in emergency bed-and-breakfast accommodations. The introduction of modular housing and other initiatives has significantly decreased that number, highlighting a concerted effort by the council to address homelessness in a challenging environment.
However, the spokesperson acknowledged the short supply of social housing across much of the southeast, leading to lengthy waiting times for families to be considered for more permanent accommodations.
Conclusion
The reality for families in modular homes like those in Caversham serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing housing crisis in the UK. While these temporary solutions offer immediate refuge, the challenges within the units themselves underscore the urgent need for more sustainable housing options. As individuals like Sarah and Rebecca navigate their day-to-day lives in an environment rife with difficulties, the importance of ensuring stable, healthy, and supportive homes for all becomes increasingly clear.
The stories of those living in these container-style homes remind us that the quality of housing is as critical as the quantity, and until significant changes are made in social housing provisions, many families may find themselves waiting far longer than anticipated for the stability they desperately seek.
*Names have been changed to protect identities.
