Proof It Works: Thanks to a Simple Container

Just days ago, the BBC shared a powerful story: after six years without a home, one man finally stepped into permanent housing — and it all started with a converted shipping container.

BBC Photo: The micro-flats give rough sleepers an opportunity to move on to independent living

This was part of The Bus Shelter Dorset’s project — not just buses, but self-contained living spaces made from upcycled containers, each offering dignity, warmth, and a safe place to rest. It wasn’t a huge housing development or a long bureaucratic process. It was a grassroots solution built by people who cared enough to act — and it worked.

That same model is what we’re trying to build here in Ipswich.

We Have the Skills. We Have the Plan. What We Need is Support.

We’ve already helped our community through our outreach work and emergency support. But we know that handing out a warm drink or a clean pair of socks can only go so far.

The Bus Shelter Ipswich's architectural planning

We need to offer stability — and that starts with somewhere safe to sleep.

That’s why we’re building eco-friendly accommodation units from old shipping containers. Like the Dorset project, these units are warm, weatherproof, secure, and above all, they restore a person’s sense of agency and dignity. They’re not luxury — they’re a lifeline.

But just like in Dorset, we’re up against a familiar wall: planning and permissions.

The Housing Crisis Won’t Wait for Red Tape

Rising costs of living and rent force more people into homelessness every day. The cost of living is rising, rents are rising, and support systems are buckling under pressure. Projects like ours are ready to respond — we’ve got the experience, the labour, and the passion to make this work. But without access to land and planning permission, we’re stuck.

The Dorset project proves this model works. It proves it’s safe, scalable, and life-changing. What we’re asking now is for the Ipswich community, and the local council, to help us get these units on the ground — to help us do what we’re already doing, but with real infrastructure behind it.

Here’s How You Can Help:

• Share this story — with friends, neighbours, and councillors.

• Speak up for us — tell your representatives you support accessible, low-cost housing initiatives.

• Help us find land — if you have a space or know someone who does, we’re all ears.

• Fundraise or donate — the containers are ready to be converted. We just need the green light.

  
  

Let’s not let bureaucracy hold back actual solutions within our community. Let’s take what works — and make it happen here.