Barry family forced to move to Penarth call for more care

It wasn't meant to be like this for Natasha Jones, 30, Shaun Rowlands, 31, and their three kids Kiera, Isaac and Wyatt.

But when they found themselves looking for a new place to live late last year - and with rents in Vale having rocketed - they faced the very real possibility that they could have to be housed in a hostel, or the notorious Holiday Inn Express near Cardiff Airport - which we have heard a numbetr of horror stories about.

On top of that, youngest Wyatt, who is just five, suffers from ADHD and is on the autism spectrum attending Ysgol y Deri.

Shaun Rowland and Natasha Jones only found out where they would be living hours before they had to move (Image: Newsquest)

A harrowing move from town to town

With rents unaffordable for the family, who previously lived in Barry, they entered the social housing system.

But Ms Jones said the process was far from smooth.

Although the Vale Council had told the family they had a property in Penarth for them to move into at the end of May, they weren't told where it was or what type of property it was.

The Rowlands previously lived in Barry but after the landlord sold up they could not afford anything with rents for their type of property having doubled (Image: Google Maps)

They were told just 24hours before bailiffs were coming that they would be moving to a two bed apartment in Penarth (Image: Newsquest)

The family didn't know where they were moving until days before their move date in what was vaguely explained by the council as a two-bedroom property in Penarth.

They got the keys to the two-bedroom top-floor flat on May 30, but not until 3pm, giving the family just half a day to move their belongings. Ms Jones said on the day, the move didn't finish until 1.30am.

The couple are now in a top floor two bed apartment in Penarth they say is not suitable for their autistic son (Image: Newsquest)

Five have to fit into two with Shaun and two of the kids having to sleep in the living room (Image: Newsquest)

‘The council is just putting people where they can. They do not see the issues’

Mr Rowlands, who had worked in security, but has been off work due to mental health issues, said there needs to be something done to build bigger homes.

"I just want to see more support for people with families," said Mr Rowlands.

"They are building houses, but they are all flats. They are knocking up one and two beds everywhere."

The couple explained all the children have found the change very difficult (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Rowland questions whether enough is being done for larger families (Image: Newsquest)

The family described themselves as isolated now, with their friends and family all back in Barry, and the children go to school in Barry - Pencoedtre High and Holton Primary - which creates its own issues, including having to get up very early for the school run.

The couple also have Wyatt who Ms Jones is a full-time carer for, Wyatt being on the autism spectrum and regularly suffering what are known as "meltdowns" where his body tenses up to the point his blood vessels burst.

Mr Rowlands said the council need to take more care.

"The council is just putting people where they can," said Mr Rowlands. "They just do not see this.

"In their eyes they have done their job, but they do not see Wyatt's issues here."

Ms Jones only knew hours ahead they were moving to Penarth (Image: Newsquest)

The Vale Council revealed 240 households are currently living in temporary accommodation and announced their “Rapid Rehousing Plan,” – a new strategy to move homeless from temporary accommodation to settled homes as quickly as possible.

A spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, finding a more permanent solution sometimes takes longer than desired given the acute shortage of affordable housing in the area.”

What’s your experience of homelessness in the Vale? Contact us at harry.jamshidian@newsquest.co.uk