BRISTOL City Council announced in December that another meanwhile site – offering safe and secure pitches – was opening in Lockleaze and plans were in the pipeline for four more.
The sites for van dwellers have amenities including fresh water, rubbish collection and toilet facilities and are managed by the council.
They are temporary provisions created on land awaiting development.
Another site in Lockleaze is set to open this month, alongside five sites currently open. The council says this will bring the number of pitches in the city to 98 and its ambition is to provide 250 pitches across the city by the end of the financial year.
Plans for four new potential meanwhile sites in Southmead, Brislington and Hengrove have been submitted to planning.
Councillor Barry Parsons, chair of the housing committee, said: “Meanwhile sites offer a real opportunity for people to move away from the kerbside and live somewhere with some additional safety and security, as well as basic amenities that everyone should have access to.
“In future, we want to extend our support offer and use our meanwhile sites as an opportunity to further engage with people living in vehicles and offer them support with housing pathways where appropriate. But for now, just the ability to move to a safe site away from the roadside will make a huge difference to both vehicle dwellers and the wider community.”
Anyone looking to live on a meanwhile site has to fill out an application form, which will be assessed against a set of criteria, similar to when people join the housing register. To qualify for a pitch, people must prove a local connection to Bristol. All pitches on the five existing sites are currently allocated, and there is a waiting list in place.
People who live on a Meanwhile Site pay a pitch fee that contributes to the services that they receive. Meanwhile site occupants also sign a site agreement once they have been offered a pitch; this is similar to a tenancy agreement and sets out the site rules.
Spence, a current resident, said: “Meanwhile sites are such a valuable and important resource for Bristol City Council to offer. They give me much-needed respite from living roadside, which makes it possible for me to work, rest, and stay safe.
“Having access to water, rubbish collection, and toilets means I can focus more on my wellbeing and my work, instead of just surviving. “