A Scottish social enterprise company, Social Bite, has announced plans to expand its work with the homeless by building a village for homeless people in Granton, Edinburgh.

The plan is to construct ten purpose-built houses and create a model to end the cycle of homelessness. In partnership with EDI Group and City of Edinburgh Council, Social Bite plans to produce an innovative, low cost, supervised, safe living environment for up to 20 homeless people for around 12 months each.

Social Bite will work with the council and other homelessness charities to identify suitable residents for the Social Bite Village. The site will be open to people who are currently living in mostly unsupported temporary accommodation, shelters, and B&Bs.

Josh Littlejohn, the founder of Social Bite, said: “The Social Bite Village plan hopes to create a full circle solution to the issue of homelessness – from housing to support to employment. In doing so we hope to alter the course of some of Scotland’s most vulnerable people for the better – swapping a destiny of poverty and exclusion for one of compassionate support and inclusion.”

The energy-efficient, eco-friendly, sustainable houses will contain two bedrooms (some single bedroom options will be available), a shared WC with shower, a lounge area and a small food preparation area. Construction costs for each house is expected to be approximately £30,000.

Commenting on the announcement, Cllr Gavin Barrie, Chair, EDI Group, said: “As part of our commitment as a responsible developer, EDI actively explore temporary worthwhile uses for our land prior to development. The proposals put forward by Social Bite will have a meaningful and positive impact on those using the Social Bite Village.”

Local MSP, Ben Macpherson, said: “Social Bite makes a big difference every day and the Social Bite Village initiative will expand on that success. I am delighted that it will be based in Granton, making a positive impact locally and providing comprehensive support for around 20 of the city’s most vulnerable citizens.”

Two homeless people who had been trying to keep warm in freezing conditions have died after a fire ripped through a building in Manchester’s Chinatown. It is thought that the two men were homeless and may have lit a fire to keep warm.

The huge fire began at about 2.15am and, at its peak, the blaze lit up the Chinatown arch and caused severe damage to the building. The fire was eventually contained at around 6am but Portland Street, Princess Street and Faulkner Street remained closed and anyone travelling to the area was urged to find alternative routes.

At just after 11.30am on Friday police announced that they had found two bodies inside the burnt-out building. The bodies were found on the first floor of the building in Nicholas Street, which is known locally as a place where homeless people have slept rough in the past.

Fire crews tackled the incident from a distance to avoid falling debris, with fears that the whole structure could collapse. However, the fire was contained to the one building and it is believed there is no fire damage to other buildings. Manchester borough manager Paul Etches said the building was unsafe and had been unoccupied for some time. He added that the key priority was to make sure there was no one else in the building.

It is thought the four-storey building had been empty for up to 35 years but had recently been bought by a local businessman with plans to renovate it. Bosses at neighbouring businesses said homeless people would regularly get into the property through damaged side windows.

Local restaurant owner Liam Lau, said: “Homeless people go in there and it looks like they have started the fire because it was cold. They have gone in, the fire has started and they couldn’t get out. They must have got in through the side windows as they are very weak and easy to access. It’s an absolute tragedy that two people should die in these circumstances when all they were apparently doing was keeping warm.”

Chief Inspector Gareth Parkin, of Greater Manchester Police, said: “These are tragic circumstances and we working to identify the people who were found in the building. A joint investigation with the fire service is in its early stages and we will be carrying out a number of enquiries to establish how this fire started. I would appeal to anyone with any information about this incident to please call us.”

When he was a teenager, Simon Whitter spent years homeless on the streets of Manchester. Now a successful businessman, he is putting on Xmas Day dinner parties across Liverpool for more than 1,000 homeless people.

Last year Simon laid on Xmas dinner for 100 homeless people at the Courtroom Cafe in Victoria Street. This year he has teamed up with Liverpool Homeless Football Club, Voice in the City, the Whitechapel Centre and the city council to bring some cheer to vulnerable people on Xmas day.

Community centres and church halls across the city will put on the events under the banner of Yummy Scouse Christmas. Those who attend will get a three-course meal along with entertainment, delivered by more than 100 volunteers who will be working on the project in the run up to Christmas.

Using the slogan ‘No one should have no one at Christmas’, Simon’s company, Neva 2 Latte, aims to build on last year’s success. He says: “Having been brought up in Manchester, I would like to say that the kindness, warmth and generosity shown by the people of Liverpool never ceases to amaze me.”

“I relish the task ahead and love the thought of bringing this wonderful city even closer together. My aim is that nobody should feel alone this Christmas and I look forward to seeing this carried out with the help of both the businesses and people of Liverpool.”

Deputy Mayor, Councillor Ann O’Byrne, said: “Most of us are fortunate to have our family and friends around us on Christmas Day, but for all sorts of reasons there are a sizeable number of people who aren’t as lucky. There is already lots of good work going on from individual organisations, but it makes sense to bring them all together under the banner of Yummy Scouse Christmas in order to help reach as many people as possible and share expertise and resources.”

The locations confirmed so far are:

• The Joseph Lappin Centre, Mill Lane, Old Swan
• St Andrews Church Hall, Clubmoor
• Frontline Church: Lawrence Road, Wavertree, L15 3HA
• The Florrie, Mill Street, Dingle
• Whitechapel Centre, Langsdale Street, L3 8DT
• All Saints Liverpool, Sheil Road, Tuebrook
• Imagine If Trust, 147 Lawrence Road, L15 3HA
• Five Children’s Centre, Conleach Road, Speke, L24 0TW
• Saint Columba United Reformed Church, Hillfoot Ave, Hunts Cross, L25 0NR

People wanting to help out or nominate people to attend should visit www.facebook.com/yummyschristmasdinner/ or can follow @yummysdinner on twitter.

Councils in Britain have spent more than £3.5bn on temporary accommodation for homeless families in the last five years, data obtained by the BBC shows.

In that time the annual cost has risen 43%, with councils spending £851m on temporary housing in 2015 alone. Homeless charity Crisis said the number of people in temporary accommodation was rising at an “alarming rate”, but the government counters this by saying temporary housing “ensures people have a roof over their head”.

But the Local Government Association said the costs were “unsustainable”.

Temporary accommodation is provided to households that councils accept are homeless, but the criteria for who is eligible varies. This includes bed and breakfasts, hostels and private rented accommodation.

Figures obtained by the BBC through the Freedom of Information Act show that most of the cost – and the increase – has occurred in the overheated London housing market. Almost two thirds of the £3.5bn (61%) has been spent in the capital, while 85% of the increase in costs since 2011-12 also occurred there. Just 10 London boroughs accounted for two thirds of the total increase in spending over the past four years. Scotland spent more on temporary accommodation (£750m) than England when London is excluded (£578m).

“More and more people are finding themselves in desperate circumstances,” said Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis. “Prevention is better than cure, and for homeless people this is especially so. It has already been shown to work in Wales. We now need similar change in England. The Homelessness Reduction Bill currently making its way through Parliament aims to do just that.”

English councils, including those in London, have seen their costs rise by almost 60%. While councils will be refunded for some of the costs – for instance through housing benefit or by charging some tenants rent for their temporary properties – many local authorities say they are increasingly having to subsidise temporary accommodation.

The Local Government Association, which represents councils in England and Wales, said: “Many councils are struggling to cope with rising homelessness and to find suitable accommodation for those in need. The increasing use of temporary accommodation is not only financially unsustainable for councils but is making it increasingly difficult for them to spend money on preventing homelessness, and is disruptive for those families placed in such accommodation.”

However, a spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: “Time spent in temporary accommodation ensures people have a roof over their head and the number of households in temporary accommodation is well below the 2004 peak. This government has invested £500m to tackle homelessness – including prevention funding and £40m for councils to help rough sleepers. We are also backing Bob Blackman’s [MP] Homelessness Reduction Bill, which will also provide vital support for many more people.”

According to housing charity Shelter, around 120,000 children will be homeless this Christmas.

But you probably won’t see these children on the streets. Most of them – and their families – will have to find emergency temporary accommodation in hostels or bedsits. But what should you do if you do see a young person sleeping rough?

Matt Downie, of the homelessness charity Crisis, told Lucy Pasha-Robinson of The Independent newspaper: “No child should ever be on the streets in modern day Britain. Anyone coming across an unaccompanied homeless child should immediately alert the authorities, whether that be the police or local social services.”

By law, anyone under the age of 18 is considered vulnerable and as such is classed as being in priority need for housing by their local council, which has a duty to find them somewhere to sleep. However, sources from many charities told The Independent that identifying minors can be particularly difficult, especially those who may be 16 or 17.

In 2014, The Child Rough Sleepers Project reported that numbers of homeless children across Europe have risen, despite increased prevention and protective measures being introduced over the last 20 years. The research found children who became homeless after running away, being thrown out of home or care, or other factors leading to them sleeping rough, were at high-risk of sexual exploitation, abuse and crime.

Mr. Downie said homeless young people aged 16 to 17 should go to their local authority housing office as soon as possible. “Anyone in this age group will automatically be entitled to housing help from their council.”

“Unfortunately for people aged 18 and over, this often isn’t the case. That’s why the Homelessness Reduction Bill, which is currently making its way through parliament, is so urgently needed,” he said. “If passed, this crucial bill will help to make sure all homeless people can get the support they need, regardless of their age.”

Anybody in priority need of housing – young people, the elderly, disabled, or pregnant women – should go to their local council housing office as soon as they can.

In Sefton, you should contact the Housing Options Team, Ground Floor, Merton House, Stanley Road, Bootle L20 3UU. Telephone: 0151 934 3541.

Opening Times: Monday-Thursday 10am to 4pm; Friday 10am to 3pm.