Visible homeless ‘just the tip of the iceberg’ – charity

A HOMELESS charity in Cardiff says the reported rising number of people sleeping rough in the city is “just the tip of the iceberg”.

Llamau, which works with homeless young people and vulnerable women in Wales, said it was “saddened” by the figures and added that the fact there are many more people who are homeless but “not visible” should also be acknowledged.

The statement came after new figures, revealed in yesterday’s Echo, showed the number of homeless people sleeping rough in Cardiff has risen by 7% from this time last year.

The information, which was released by homeless charity The Wallich, also showed that in the first three months of 2017, the figure had risen 13% from the same period in 2016.

Speaking about the new figures, Frances Beecher, Llamau chief executive, said: “We are saddened by the increase in the figure of people recorded as rough sleeping across Wales. For us, we know that the figures of rough sleeping are just the tip of the iceberg. We must address and respond to those who are visibly in need and suffering right now, but we must also acknowledge the fact that there are many more who are homeless, who are not visible but are also suffering.”

Frances said Llamau works with many people experiencing “hidden homelessness”, and expressed the importance of “achieving sustainable change in the future” to ensure that homelessness is eradicated for all.

Huggard, a charity and centre in Cardiff for homeless people, said the number of homeless people presented to its service in the first six months of 2017 showed a 24% increase on 2016 figures.

But Huggard’s chief executive, Richard Edwards, said this increase dropped to 2% over the last three months.

Richard said: “The issues experienced by people who find themselves sleeping rough are hugely complex and at Huggard we have focused our work on working with individuals to help overcome the barriers that prevent them from breaking their personal cycle of homelessness.

“For many, escaping the gravitational pull of being on the streets is huge barrier to overcome.

“In the last three months Huggard has helped homeless people in Cardiff to claim over £514k in benefit income that they are entitled to so they don’t have to rely on begging as their source of income and survival.”

The charity has also accommodated 286 individuals and run 216 development sessions within the same time period.

The chief executive added: “The work we do is vitally important but it can’t be done without the partnership working and support of the council, who are working hard to address rough sleeping in the city, together with the other homeless charities, Cardiff businesses and the caring public.

“Homelessness is something that we need to work together as a whole community to resolve.”

One man living on the streets of Cardiff said he was seeing greater numbers of people sleeping rough.

Derek Clarke, 39, found himself sleeping rough when he lost his job.

He said: “There’s a lot more people on the streets in Cardiff than there was last year, there are lots of new faces.

“If you go to soup kitchens there are so many people so you might lose out.”