Last night, Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, joined over 250 CEOs from across Scotland who slept out rough in Charlotte Square in aid of the final push from Social Bite to raise money to build the first ever village for homeless people in Edinburgh.
The ‘homeless village’ will be built on Granton’s waterfront and provide a safe and secure living environment for up to 20 homeless people each year. The residents at the village will be supported, over the course of 12-15 months, to live independently and will have access to employment guidance and counselling.
The SNP MSP also joined the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon and the Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities, Angela Constance, in the morning to thank everyone, with a selection of breakfast rolls, for sleeping out and raising money for the village.
Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, said: “The support that Social Bite receive from people for their life changing work is always inspiring, and to see so many businesses and organisations sleeping out last night, supporting this new venture (Social Bite Village) was brilliant.
“I am delighted that the village will be based in Granton, making a positive impact locally and providing comprehensive support for around 20 of the city’s most vulnerable citizens. I’ve been assisting Josh with the village project for several months now and it’s great to see it really moving forward.
“The Social Bite Village is an innovative example of how we can better utilise derelict and underdeveloped land with temporary so-called “interwhile” solutions. As well as helping the homeless, this project can inspire other similarly imaginative housing initiatives across Scotland. It can be a catalyst for wider change and stimulate other community initiatives, local investment and creative projects, particularly in North Edinburgh.”
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