Homelessness to be tackled with council's rehousing plan

It comes as shocking photos were released of a homeless person sleeping on the office steps of the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

Now the council is responding with a plan that it wants to see provide an alternative to staying in temporary accommodation and hotels for long periods of time.

The council’s plans include:

• Building more social housing;
• Increasing the number of council-owned temporary accommodation units;
• Securing greater access to private rental homes;
• Remodelling existing council homes to cater for larger numbers of single people;
• Prioritising homeless people living in temporary accommodation for placement in social rented housing.

That photo. A homeless person sleeping rough on the steps of the Vale Council. Photo Jason Wyatt

Trapped unable to open windows and with no cooking facilites for months

The council says it stopped using hotels and B&B accommodation a number of years ago, but the high numbers of homeless people during the pandemic and the significant shortage of affordable housing left few other options.

We heard the horrifying pleas of mother Sandra Thomas who feared her daughter, just 22, would take her own life being stuck in a Holiday Inn near Cardiff Airport after becoming homeless.

Ms Thomas told how her daughter had no cooking facilities, could not open windows and could not stand the smell, with the bathroom right next to her bed in a cramped one bed she had be trapped in for months.

Currently, there are around 240 households living in temporary accommodation, of which a third is hotel or bed and breakfast-type provision.

Sandra Thomas' daughter was stuck in a hotel for months with terrible facilities

'We need to reduce the use of the number of people in these locations'

A report on the Rapid Rehousing Plan was discussed by the council’s cabinet and will now be considered by scrutiny committee.

It sets out how the use of hotels and other forms of unsuitable temporary accommodation can be reduced over the next financial year by implementing some key actions.

Cllr Lis Burnett, leader of the council, said Vale politicians were not digging their heads in the sand about the issue.

“There are acute pressures facing the council’s Housing Department at the moment, with one issue being the number of people living in temporary hotel placements,” said Cllr Burnett.

“This is inappropriate and unsuitable for many reasons, including the lack of cooking facilities, and is also the most expensive form of accommodation.

“We need to reduce the use of the number of people in these locations and this plan explains how that might be achieved.

“Proposals involve building more social housing, increasing the number of council units available for single people and working with private landlords to boost capacity.

“We might also be able to make access to more permanent housing easier for those in temporary accommodation.

“I look forward to hearing the views of scrutiny committee on this matter as we consider the best way forward.”