Location chosen for more homeless sleeping pods in Guernsey

Wednesday, 23 September 2026 06:40

By Holly Brown

Caritas now wants to increase provision for the homeless in Guernsey, this time in northern St Peter Port.

At the end of 2025, Guernsey’s homelessness charity, Caritas, installed the island’s first emergency sleeping pods at the Vale Douzaine Room.

With a bed, solar power, and a toilet they're designed to provide short-term accommodation for people with nowhere to stay.

Since these opened, they’ve been used for more than 100 nights, with a waiting list proving demand.

Caritas now wants to add two more pods in St Peter Port, on reclaimed land between the Queen Elizabeth II Marina and La Salerie car park, overlooking the marina.

Chair Graham Merfield says the charity wants to help more people.

“The demand for the sleeping pods has varied considerably during the first half of this year, and we have often found ourselves with a waiting list of people who need somewhere safe to sleep.

“Our aim is to ensure that anyone who needs to use an emergency sleeping pod has access to one when they need it.

"The additional pods will give us greater capacity and provide an alternative location to complement the existing facility in the Vale.

“The pods are not a solution to homelessness, but they provide an immediate, safe and dignified place to stay while people work towards finding more permanent accommodation.”

Screenshot from Google Maps indicating where the pods will be located

He says Guernsey Ports helped find a suitable location, DRP Architects helped with the planning application, and Channel Seaways helped transport the pods.

Graham adds that the location will help people access town amenities and be sheltered from the worst weather, as they are surrounded by three concrete walls.