Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children, has announced a further
£500,000 to tackle youth homelessness and rough sleeping. The
funding is in addition to the £2.1 million announced in the summer,
bringing the additional funding to £2.6 million.
This funding has been allocated to projects which tackle rough
sleeping, youth homelessness, mental health and homelessness as
well as supporting people to find housing in the private rented
sector.
Of the £2.6 million, Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and Wrexham local
authorities have also benefited from capital funding to increase
the capacity of emergency night provision for rough sleepers. The
Cabinet Secretary’s announcement coincides with homelessness
figures for April to June 2017 which, based on information from
21 of the 22 local authorities across Wales, highlight that
homelessness was prevented, for at least six months, for 63 per
cent of households threatened with homelessness.
The new figures show; of the 2,652 households assessed as being
homeless during April to June 2017, 39 per cent were helped by
local authorities to secure accommodation that was likely to last
for 6 months.
Communities Secretary, said:
“The latest quarterly figures show the legislation we introduced
in 2015 is continuing to help more people who are homeless or at
risk of becoming homeless.
“Providing people with a safe, warm and secure home remains a key
priority and I acknowledge there is more we can do; particularly
for rough sleepers and those groups who are struggling to get the
help they need. This £2.6 million will increase the capacity to
support those most in need of our help.”
