New modular housing model, designed to support young people with experience of homelessness, will be unveiled by Portakabin at this years’ UKREiiF in May.
From Tuesday 19 to Thursday 21 May, Portakabin will unveil a major new step in its mission to deliver fast, high-quality solutions for young people in urgent housing need. In collaboration with the UK’s leading youth homelessness charity, Centrepoint, Portakabin will launch Jordan’s Home – a new Single Living Accommodation (SLA) product, purpose built to provide safe, stable and dignified homes, rapidly deployed for ‘meanwhile’ use for young people experiencing homelessness.
Named to reflect the real-life experiences of young people experiencing homelessness across the UK, Jordan’s Home brings a human lens to a growing national challenge.
Centrepoint’s response so far has been its Independent Living Programme: a pioneering housing model that provides purpose-built high-quality homes where rent is capped at a third of a young person’s income.
According to Centrepoint’s Youth Homelessness Databank, almost 124,000 young people faced homelessness in the UK last year, a record high.
The transitional housing model by Portakabin has been created to help address this national issue, providing a genuine Stepping Stone home to help young people build independence, access education and employment opportunities, and support them in transitioning to a longer-term home.
Sally Orlopp, Deputy CEO at Centrepoint, said: "Our ambition is to create at least 300 homes for young people ready for independence but otherwise locked out of stable housing because there simply aren’t enough good quality, genuinely affordable homes.
“We know that we can’t do this alone, and that’s why we’re delighted to be partnering with Portakabin to create these homes. Too many young people are denied housing at the moment – our hope is this initiative and others will give some of them a chance to save money progress in their careers and prepare for living independently.”
Portakabin will showcase Jordan’s Home at UKREiiF in Leeds, where discussions will not only focus on tackling youth homelessness, but about the wider role Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) can play in tackling the UK’s housing challenges with its speed of delivery and high-quality, adaptable solutions.
Alongside its Stepping Stone solution, Portakabin will also highlight its full transitional housing model – a high-quality, scalable and cost-effective solution to address the UK’s temporary accommodation crisis and provide families with a Space to Belong.
The new rental model for transitional housing is designed to be delivered at pace, flexible to shifting community requirements, and to help reduce the financial burden on local authorities, whilst a sustainable stock of permanent social and affordable housing is built. The offer includes studio, one-bed and two-bed apartments, right up to supporting multi-generational families.
Dan Ibbetson, CEO at Portakabin said: “Too many young people are being held back by lack of suitable housing and accommodation. Our Stepping Stone homes have been designed to change that, providing not just a roof over someone’s head, but a real foundation for future independence. Our model provides a transitional home, until permanent housing is available.
“‘Jordan’s Home’ is about making this issue real. It represents the thousands of young people across the UK who need more than a temporary shelter – they need the right environment to move forward with their lives. We’re thrilled to have worked alongside Centrepoint to bring ‘Jordan’s Home’ to life, and offer a practical, high-quality solution that can be delivered and adapted at pace, when and where it’s needed most in the community.
“We’re looking forward to UKREiiF and having the opportunity to have conversations with other charities, local authorities, and partners about how MMC can support communities through innovative, scalable, housing solutions.”
The Portakabin team and Centrepoint will be attending UKREiiF from Tuesday 19 – Thursday 21 May 2026, at the Royal Armouries Dock, Leeds City Centre. Alongside Portakabin CEO Dan Ibbetson, additional MMC experts will be on hand to connect with partners, share insights and discuss how these new solutions can support communities across the UK.
