The Caerphilly Churches Night Shelter scheme to support the homeless through the winter months has returned for its third year.
The project is supported by Caerphilly County Borough Council and gives those referred a place to sleep, food and support.
Rough sleepers must be referred to the Housing Advice Centre by 4pm to receive support. Once part of the scheme participants will be monitored and assessed to ensure the right support is given.
Councillor Gerald Jones, deputy leader of the council who is also in charge of housing, said: “When the cold winter weather begins to bite rough sleepers are among those who are hit the hardest.
“The Caerphilly Churches Night Shelter scheme provides a lifeline for these people, giving them a warm, dry and safe place to stay for the night.
“I’m pleased that the council is able to support these volunteers in providing this important scheme to some of the most vulnerable members of our community.”
The scheme runs until March 27 and has been supported by Disability Can Do in Pontllanfraith, who provided goods for the participants.
I would like to know, by posing the question to Councillor Gerald Jones, Cabinet Member for Housing CCBC and Labours Deputy Leader on the Council, ( soon to be elected as an MP). two questions:
First question, Who `refers` a Street Sleeper in order for them to `qualify` and not simply be turned away when they turn up on the steps of a participating Church, because they have not been ` referred?.
Second Question: How much of the £3 Million plus pot of money the Welsh Assembly have given to the Caerphilly borough council to deal with `homelessness` in the borough this year, has been spent, this financial year, on ANYTHING WHATSOEVER in dealing with the appalling social disgrace in 2014 of sick people having to sleep on the streets of Caerphilly?.
Is is all very well the Council holding meetings of what it calls “It`s Partners` , and brainstorming stupid ideas like ` round `em up and move `em out`. Ideas akin to shuffling deckchairs on the Titanic, and, even with the combined interlect of all those `great and good` who attended the meetings, the problem still persists of Street Sleepers AFTER THREE YEARS
For Gods sake get a grip Ladies and Gentlemen, one day a persons life will depend on the decisions you make, if you make any that is, and not continously rely on and leave it mainly to the third sector charities to pick up the Borough Council`s broken pieces. £3, Million Pounds??????