Homelessness an 'increasing trend', charity warns

The chief executive of Cais thinks the problem of homelessness will increase

More people will find themselves homeless in Wales due to a lack of options, a charity has warned.

North Wales-based Cais is blaming a lack of choices available to individuals because of a change in the type of support on offer.

Cais chief executive Clive Wolfendale described the issue as an "increasing trend".

The Welsh government said it is working with housing associations, councils and charities to help people.

"We are seeing people camped out in gardens and woods with nowhere to go," said Mr Wolfendale.

"I think individuals are finding themselves not able to be supported by housing organisations and authorities of all types. The options available are becoming more and more limited.

"Some of it is just a change of emphasis in support. It's the way services are being delivered with less emphasis on accommodation and more on employment."

'Promising'

A spokesman for homeless charity Shelter Cymru said: "We certainly agree that things are getting more difficult for a lot of people for a range of reasons connected with welfare reform, cost of living and low incomes.

"One worrying trend we have identified is the rise in social housing evictions in 2014, which does seem to support Cais's view that people are running out of options."

The Welsh government said more than £11m will be spent on tackling homelessness in the 2015/16 financial year.

A spokesman said the latest figures showed an 8% fall in homelessness between April and June 2014, which he described as "promising".

"In April next year, the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 will come into effect which puts a greater emphasis on preventing people from losing their home and providing better services to those who are homeless," he added.