Sir Terry Waite opens new Ipswich houses for homeless

Emmaus UK patron Sir Terry Waite spoke at an official launch in Felixstowe Road on Tuesday

The former hostage and humanitarian Sir Terry Waite has cut the ribbon at the launch of two new modular houses for homeless people.

The 84-year-old gave a speech at the official opening of Hopestead Place in Ipswich, run by Emmaus UK.

Sir Terry, who is president of the charity and lives in Suffolk, said the homes would give a leg up for "young people or those getting on in life".

The homes are fitted with kitchens, living rooms and heat pumps.

"What is important to every person, yourself, myself, is to have a decent home," said Sir Terry, speaking to the BBC Radio Suffolk at the launch.

"We need all people to cooperate together and say 'we can wait until the cows come home for politicians to take drastic action - what we need is not just new homes, but more affordable accommodation for people'."

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Emmaus UK said the homes were funded by the charity Hopestead and funded by the Cambridge charity New Meaning Foundation.

The charity Ipswich Housing Action Group previously estimated there were 1,000 people in the town who were technically homeless, such as sofa surfers and people living in refuges.

People have already moved in to the modular homes at Hopestead Place in Felixstowe Road.

Sir Terry spent almost five years in captivity after being kidnapped by militant Islamists in Lebanon, having travelled to Beirut as an envoy for the Church of England.