AN AMBITIOUS £2.7million charity project aims to create dozens of new climate-friendly modular homes for Essex rough sleepers by early 2025 – but needs to secure final funding by the end of this month. 

CHESS will be creating 24 self-contained units at a CHESS Homeless facility in Chelmsford which further has a large communal space and an office for an outreach team which provides 24/7 support for service users.

Six ground floor units will have ramps and facilities for those with disabilities and serious health conditions, and the use of renewable energy will be central to the project.

CHESS boss Rob Saggs has urged any potential benefactors to get in touch ahead of the end of March as the charity has a funding shortfall of £475,000 – a fifth of the overall amount needed.

He said: “We are so grateful for all of the support we have already received as it has taken us so tantalisingly close to our target and are now praying for some community-focused heroes to step forward and take us over the finish line.”

CHESS helps single homeless adults whose lives have been devastated by issues such as poor mental health, domestic abuse, substance abuse and a lack of affordable housing.

CHESS supports vulnerable people in Braintree, Maldon, Epping Forest, Rochford, Castle Point, Uttlesford, Brentwood and Chelmsford.