Action plan ‘keeps hundreds off the streets’

HUNDREDS of people were saved from homelessness in one South Wales authority last year, but more people are reaching out for help.

Out of 624 cases, Caerphilly council prevented 471 households from becoming homeless by using temporary accommodation, night shelters and bed and breakfasts.

With the number of cases rising by 8.5% since 2017-18, the council’s five-strong team have been praised for their work as part of a shared four-year action plan adopted by Gwent councils.

But while local prevention work is said to be making progress, a report says regional efforts are still catching up.

“The Gwent Homelessness Strategy is now operational, and work towards local actions and targets are progressing well,” says the report to the council’s homes task group.

“Caerphilly’s homeless prevention service has performed well despite an increase in the numbers of households requiring assistance to prevent or relieve their homelessness crisis.

“The actions requiring a regional input are less well progressed, however, and this new approach to homelessness on a regional basis needs time to become embedded.”

More than half of the actions listed in the strategy show that no progress, either locally or regionally, has been made to date – but this work is expected by the end of the year.

This includes finding more temporary accommodation in the region and providing greater access to affordable housing schemes for the homeless or those faced with homelessness.

The report says: “Due to the increase in presentations there is a requirement to increase the availability of accommodation, which includes emergency temporary accommodation and suitable ‘move on’ accommodation.”

Access to 29 private rented properties has been secured in the last year, with the council also progressing plans to convert low-demand council houses into accommodation.

Loss of rented accommodation is the main reason for assistance being required in Caerphilly, followed by an unwillingness of parents or relatives to accommodate, and social housing rent arrears.

Support has also been provided by churches which open their doors across the borough as part of the Caerphilly Churches Night Shelter scheme.

But the council continues to rely on bed and breakfasts for emergency accommodation, which is contrary to the Welsh Government’s aim to stop using them for such purposes.

The report’s findings will be discussed on Friday.