The new pods will be accommodated by Guernsey Ports in an area between Queen Elizabeth II marina and Salerie Corner.
‘We approached Guernsey Ports when we were considering locations and thought it would be good to have a location close to town,’ said Caritas chairman Graham Merfield.
‘They evaluated a number of sites and thought this would be the best location for the pods, providing some privacy but also close to town.’
The new pods will be run alongside the two pods installed at the Vale Douzaine Room by the charity at the end of last year.
Since they were installed, they have provided more than 100 nights to people who had no alternative accommodation.
The new pods are identical to the first two, and have again been supplied by Amazing Grace Spaces.
The order has been placed and they are currently being built.
‘We probably saw the biggest peak in the springtime, which I think is related to winter lets coming to an end,' said Mr Merfield.
‘There were quite a lot of people looking for accommodation at the time, and then it slowed a bit over the summer.
‘Sadly, I think there have been a lot of people living in tents over the summer at campsites and other locations.
‘Now that summer is coming to an end and campsites are closing, we’re expecting demand to pick up again.’
The charity is not too concerned about the impact town night life may have on the use of the pods, as they are locked when not in use and will be under CCTV surveillance.
For the two new pods, DRP architects assisted with the planning application and Channel Seaways are helping with the transportation of the pods to Guernsey.
It is anticipated that they will be shipped towards the end of October and the planning application should be published this week.
‘This is a very worthy initiative led by Caritas which will help members of our community when they need it most,’ said harbour master James Way.
‘Guernsey Ports is pleased to make a small contribution by identifying a suitable location on the harbour estate for the emergency sleeping pods.’
Caritas does not currently have a waiting list for the Vale pods, but did earlier in the year.
‘We want to be in a position to provide anyone that needs somewhere safe and secure to sleep for the night a place to stay,’ said Mr Merfield.
The pods are self-contained units designed to provide safe, short-term emergency accommodation, with solar power, battery storage and toilet facilities.
Caritas provides oversight and support while helping clients access longer-term accommodation and other appropriate services.
The two new pods form part of the charity’s work to address homelessness and housing insecurity in Guernsey.
It is also developing plans for a community of modular homes which would provide short- to medium-term accommodation and support for people who are homeless or living in insecure accommodation.
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