A council-backed scheme which helps rough sleepers is likely to be extended.
The Caerphilly Churches Night Shelter scheme was piloted at three churches in January 2013 to try and reduce rough sleeping in the county borough and provide those in need with shelter for the evening.
Such was the positive impact of the scheme that it returned in January 2014 with an extended programme, with a total of seven churches in Caerphilly and Blackwood each covering one night each, meaning there was a night shelter available for every night of the week.
Between January and March this year the scheme provided a total of 330 bed spaces, accommodating 17 rough sleepers.
Caerphilly County Borough Council is now looking for additional churches and volunteers to become involved in the project, so that support can be provided to those who need it for an additional two months this winter.
An open evening is being held on Wednesday July 23 at the Oasis Christian Centre in Cefn Fforest at 7pm to discuss the Caerphilly Churches Night Shelter scheme.
Representatives from local churches who would like to get involved, and those residents who would like to volunteer to help as part of the project are encouraged to come along to the open evening to find out more.
Church Coordinator, Reverend Sue Phillips said: “Ideally we would like the project to commence in November this year rather than January, so it would provide shelter and safety for this most vulnerable sector for an additional two months.
“We had seven churches committed to the night shelter scheme earlier this year, but would welcome additional churches and volunteers to be part of this successful project.”
Cllr Gerald Jones, Deputy Leader of the Council and the council’s Poverty Champion, said: “It has been wonderful to see local churches, volunteers, local community members and the council working together to support this important project. I would encourage anyone who feels they may be able to support the expansion of the Night Shelters project this winter to get in touch.”
For further details on the Caerphilly Churches Night Shelter scheme, call David Francis at Caerphilly County Borough Council on 01443 873 549 or Reverend Sue Phillips on 07817 238 608.
This is a welcome proposal and gratitude has to be given to
the various christian organisation without who`s input the entire
initiative, it appears from this report, would fall at the first hurdle, it also has to be said that Ian Johnston, the Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner also made a significant contribution to this scheme last winter.
The fact is that Rough sleeping is the most visible sign homelessness and poverty in Caerphilly County Borough area
Some people may have a longer history of rough sleeping, be known to
local services and may require longer term support to help them leave
the streets. This can include people who suffer with mental health
issues, and other health problems, no end of plastering over the cracks
will alleviate the problems in Caerphilly, it has to be dealt with .
There are other people in Caerphilly who are homeless and in temporary accommodation, such as hostels. There are also individuals and families who become homeless but find temporary solutions, such as staying with friends or family. This group of people can approach Caerphilly council’s Housing Options
service for advice and assistance. But longer term street sleepers find it more difficult to access such advice and assistance.
Actions which are proposed in this news article are only effective if positive
alternatives to street sleeping are on offer to people sleeping rough
in Caerphilly County, including good quality hostels and day centres and are provided now, and not waiting until winter for the problems to intensify and get more acute
Caerphilly council should take a leading role in developing rough
sleeping strategies, this is a DUTY under the Homelessness Act 2002 and
provides a public, definite, role in tackling Rough sleeping in the
borough, I wonder if they have done so to date?
I wonder, for instance, if Caerphilly council have developed `Contact and Assessment` teams, or are they `flying blindon the issues?, Contact teams have been central to reducing the numbers of rough sleepers in many towns and cities up and down Britain.
Only when Caerphilly Council as the authority with the duty of care to Rough
sleepers, gets a grip of this situation, and not rely on third sector (
Charities) to continuously make provision for the winter for Rough
sleepers, will the issues be properly dealt with.
Caerphilly Council have to take positive and decisive action to provide for these citizens “now” as each night passes the disgrace and ignominy of the
situation gets worse.