Hundreds in temp homes and big number at Holiday Inn Cardiff

The council revealed 240 households are currently living in temporary accommodation, with a quarter of these in hotels or bed and breakfasts.

It comes as reports tell of a “hotel of horrors” near Cardiff Airport, used as temporary accommodation for the homeless.

People living on the streets, who are offered temporary accommodation in the Holiday Inn Express Cardiff Airport by the council, have described how living there is nightmarish, with poor facilities, horrendous noise, and even claims of drug taking on the premise.

Publican Stuart Giggs described how he was left broken, having lost everything and being offered a place at the hotel. He now sleeps in his van.

“The communal area has only a microwave, toaster and kettle for up to 70 people to use,” said Mr Giggs.

“There are drugs (at the hotel). The noise at night is shocking. Rooms are trashed. It is a nightmare.”

“I used to be a fun-loving guy, but all of this has left me broken now.”

Stuart Giggs was a successful publican. Now he sleeps in his van (Image: Stuart Giggs)

Council try to solve the problem with new “Rapid Rehousing Plan”, but what is it?

Vale of Glamorgan Council recently announced its “Rapid Rehousing Plan,” looking at moving homeless from temporary accommodation to settled homes as quickly as possible.

The council say the plan is designed to reduce the use of hotels and other forms of unsustainable temporary accommodation over the next financial year.

They aim to do this by:

• building more social housing;
• increasing the number of council-owned temporary homes;
• securing greater access to private rental homes;
• remodelling existing council homes to cater for larger numbers of single people;
• prioritise homeless people living in temporary accommodation for placement in social rented housing.

Shocking photo of a person sleeping rough outside the Vale council offices (Image: Jason Wyatt)

The council say a shortage in affordable housing and the pandemic has forced them to turn to hotels for temporary accommodation.

However, they say while they provide the accommodation, they did not have control over how hotels and B&Bs are run.

A council spokesperson said: "Currently, there are around 240 households living in temporary accommodation, of which a quarter is hotel or bed and breakfast-type provision.

“The council had 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.

“For those currently in hotel accommodation, the council provides a range of support for residents who find themselves in this position, but management of the hotel facility is the responsibility of another party.

“We appreciate that living in a hotel can present certain difficulties and this option is only ever used as a short-term measure. However, unfortunately, finding a more permanent solution sometimes takes longer than desired given the acute shortage of affordable housing in the area.”

We contacted Holiday Inn for comment, but they have not as yet responded.

How bad is the homeless situation in the Vale? Contact us about it at harry.jamshidian@newsquest.co.uk