A ONE stop shop for housing support has been launched.

Based on Holton Road in Barry, the shop is operated in partnership with Pobl, a not-for-profit organisation which supports communities in Wales.

Although the One Stop Shop has been operating since April 2020 – helping more than 2,000 people - the official launch was delayed by the Covid pandemic.

Cllr Wilkinson – who is Vale of Glamorgan Council’s cabinet member for public sector housing and tenant engagement – and council leader Lis Burnett were given a tour of the base, which has:

  • Meeting pods;
  • ICT facilities;
  • A training room;
  • Pobl staff to help with queries.

“It was fantastic to visit the One Stop Shop for its official launch,” said Cllr Wilkinson.

“Providing people with suitable accommodation is of paramount importance to the council and this facility helps enormously with that aim.

“Sadly, since the pandemic, the numbers of people requiring support of this type has increased significantly so this service has never been more valuable.

“I’d like to thank Pobl for their help with this venture and in particular praise the One Stop Shop staff for the incredibly worthwhile work they are doing.

“Thousands of people have already been helped by this service and thousands more will be in the future.”

Funded by a Welsh Government Housing Support Grant, the One Stop Shop operates on a drop-in basis, either in person or by telephone.

Service users can get help to:

  • Prevent homelessness;
  • Manage a home or tenancy;
  • Deal with a housing crisis;
  • Budgeting;
  • Understand and make welfare benefit applications;
  • Understand correspondence;
  • Learn about other relevant agencies.

When someone requires longer term support, they are referred to the Council’s Supporting People Gateway.

Pobl Area Manager, Lorraine Griffiths, said: “The long-awaited launch took place, and we were able to showcase the amazing work of the staff.

“Pobl would like to thank our staff and the Housing Support Grant team for their support with the project that ensures we can deliver immediate support to anyone that needs our services.”

The One Stop Shop is open from 9am to 6pm from Monday to Thursday, from 9am to 4pm on Fridays, and from 9am to 1pm on Saturdays.