Council helps more than 280 homeless people during crisis
MORE than 280 homeless people have been supported by Carmarthenshire County Council since the Covid-19 pandemic hit.
The council took immediate action to support people in Carmarthenshire living rough, sofa surfing, prison leavers or people at risk of losing their home due to domestic violence, ensuring that they had a roof over their head as the country went into lockdown.
Since lockdown, the council has provided more emergency accommodation than ever to meet demand and delivered food parcels to those it has been accommodating.
Hub facilities have been set up so that homeless people can meet with support workers in a friendly environment.
More support services have also been rolled out to support people with drug and alcohol issues, including finding alternative accommodation for people and helping them access benefits.
One family, who have moved into a permanent council home after losing their home and business, said: “It was a very stressful time especially with the coronavirus around and we were mentally in a bad way. We had a young son to look after and didn’t know what we were going to live on or how we would cope. We got in touch with the council and they were so supportive and dealt with everything smoothly and quickly. I can’t thank them enough as this was one of the worst moments of our lives. We are now happily settled in a two bedroomed home and so thankful.”
Officers continue to support the homeless and are working on plans to set up a bespoke mental health service for people who are struggling.
The council is also increasing its housing options for single people.
The council’s executive board member for housing, Cllr Linda Davies Evans, said: “Once the country went into lockdown our officers worked around the clock and are still doing so to ensure that people who have nowhere to go are accommodated. We have already supported many of these people from temporary or emergency accommodation into permanent accommodation, including helping with removal costs and basic goods so they can set up home.”