LONDON, April 16 (Xinhua) -- A multi-million dollar scheme to house homeless people in Britain's capital in temporary modular homes was announced Tuesday by London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
Khan is investing 14.4 million U.S. dollars in the scheme with London boroughs to manufacture "modular" homes, which are constructed off-site and then placed temporarily on land that is unused as it awaits permanent development.
City Hall said there are currently more than 54,000 homeless households living in temporary accommodation in London, more than four-fifths of them families with children. The mayor's funding will deliver up to 200 affordable homes to rent on sites across London. The modular buildings can be moved from site to site.
The new initiative is to be run by the Pan-London Accommodation Collaborative Enterprise (PLACE), a not-for-profit company hosted by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
Khan, said: "The rise in homelessness in recent years is a national disgrace. Government cuts mean that, too often, London councils are left with little choice other than to offer homeless families expensive housing a long way from their local area. I'm pleased to support this new initiative that makes use of modular construction and temporarily vacant sites to help ease some of that pressure and make a real difference to the families involved."
Councilor Darren Rodwell, housing spokesman for London, said: "London faces the most severe housing crisis in the country, and London boroughs are determined to work together to secure better accommodation for homeless Londoners."
"PLACE will deliver new family-sized housing for homeless Londoners in their borough -- close to their schools, jobs and support networks -- and provide a high-quality alternative to other forms of temporary accommodation. It represents an innovative new approach," added Rodwell.
