Homeless tents ‘look like a refugee camp’
ROUGH sleepers have been spotted setting up camp in a city centre park, sparking new concerns about Cardiff’s growing homeless problem.
Around half a dozen tents appeared on a patch of councilowned grass in between the National Museum and the main Cardiff University building off Museum Place over the weekend.
The cluster was set up behind a disused toilet block surrounded by trees and hedges with one shelter constructed from twigs, scrap pieces of woods and foil.
Dr David Wyatt, a senior lecturer at Cardiff University, said he has seen a growing number of homeless people camping around the campus in recent months and was saddened when he saw eight tents pitched next to the building.
“There have been people camping in that spot for most of the winter months but I was shocked to see so many on Friday,” said Mr Wyatt.
“There used to be a couple who would camp around the back but the number has increased, there were about eight.
“I know there has always been homelessness in Cardiff but I never knew it was this bad. It saddens me that there are so many homeless people and people that have been failed by the Government. I think they have been there for a while, it looks like a refugee camp.”
Cardiff-based charity The Wallich said they have seen a sharp increase in the number of people they are helping – rising from 1,924 in 20152016 to 2,611 in 2016-2017.
A spokeswoman for the charity said “We don’t accept tents and we don’t buy them. We would try to get the person moved into a hostel first of all,” she added.
Cardiff council has been approached for a comment.