'Golden opportunity’ to end homelessness' - Archbishop

Homelessness in Wales could become a thing of the past thanks to a progressive policy from the Welsh Government, says the Archbishop of Wales.

Archbishop John Davies, who chairs the Steering Group of the charity Housing Justice Cymru, is supporting the Welsh Government’s Homelessness Plan which includes investing more than £100m to ensure everyone in Wales who needs a home has a safe place to live and a clear path into long-term stable housing.

Winter night shelters run by Housing Justice Cymru in partnership with churches and community centres, were shut down last year, due to COVID restrictions, and a new standard of emergency accommodation was set up by the Welsh Government for anyone in need. Funding has now been made available to local authorities and through grants to create better quality accommodation and more affordable homes, as well as a renewed focus on preventative support services.

As a result, Housing Justice Cymru has shifted its efforts and resources to its Citadel project which aims to help people experiencing homelessness to find accommodation and sustain it.

Archbishop John is calling on others in the sector, including churches, to ensure their work also supports the approach and the efforts of local authorities to get everyone into the accommodation that is available.

"It is only by working with existing services and local authorities that we can make the most out of this unique, once in a generation opportunity before us and progress towards genuinely ending homelessness in Wales. This may mean moving away from night shelters and soup kitchens, and instead directing people to their local authority who can house and support them.

We have a golden opportunity before us in Wales. We must not squander it."

Bonnie Navarra, Director of Housing Justice Cymru, described the Welsh Government’s homelessness plan as "a hugely exciting opportunity for Wales”. She said, “Emergency accommodation is now vastly improved in terms of quality and quantity, and has been made available to anybody sleeping on the streets, or at risk of it.

“This is our chance to dismantle homelessness, and ensure that moving forward, it is only a rare, brief and unrepeated experience.”

Since the pandemic began, more than 5,000 people have been supported into temporary accommodation in Wales and an additional £20m has been made available to help ensure everyone sleeping rough has accommodation. Local authorities have been given £50m to tackle homelessness by increasing housing spaces and support services and an additional £40m Housing Support Grant and £4m Homelessness Prevention Grant have been set up.

In addition, a helpline has been established for private-sector tenants at risk of homelessness, the notice period for evictions has been increased to six months and a new low interest Tenancy Saver Loan scheme set up to support tenants in rent arrears because of Covid-19.

Housing Justice Cymru is asking volunteers to continue helping those affected by homelessness by taking the following helpful actions:

• Help people access accommodation and support services:

You can do this by calling Streetlink on 0300 500 0914 to alert them to someone sleeping rough. They will contact the local outreach team who will go out to find the individual and help them to access the services they need.

• Ask if you can help

Experiencing homelessness can be a very lonely, particularly for those on the streets who are often ignored by passers-by. By smiling and saying hello or asking if the person needs something to eat or drink, you can make a real difference.

• Offer your support

Volunteer or raise money for a charity offering preventative support, e.g. Citadel project by Housing Justice Cymru or the Shelter Cymru Helpline.

The Welsh Government’s Homelessness Plan is very welcome news for one church in Swansea city centre which has been serving up meals for homeless people for the past two years.

Volunteers from St Mary’s Church set up a breakfast club for people who were homeless in 2019, serving about 30 people a week. Since the pandemic, however, they have switched to a takeaway brunch service, together with other city churches. This means that every day of the week, including bank holidays, people in need can get a takeaway brunch from one of the churches. The number of meals provided has rocked to 70-90 a day.

Toiletries are also supplied to those who need them and, during particularly colder times, warm clothing and sleeping bags too.

Canon Ian Rees, Rector of Central Swansea, says, “The Government’s homelessness plan is really good and ambitious, undoubtedly addressing a massive need in communities.

“There will remain the challenge of those who find it difficult to adapt to any formalised housing. But as numbers who do wish to be housed are reduced, as they are provided with accommodation, it allows organisations, including churches, to engage more closely with those who remain homeless and help them face some of their challenges.”