Council appeals for temporary accommodation for homeless

Owners of vacant properties in Monmouthshire have been asked by the county council to make them available as temporary accommodation for the homeless during the coronavirus pandemic.

The council said it would take responsibility for paying rent for properties or rooms during the arrangement.

This comes after the council agreed yesterday to use the Gilwern Outdoor Education Centre to house up to nine homeless people until August 21.

So far, the council has found 56 accommodation units to support homeless people over the last eight weeks.

It is the council’s duty “to ensure that homeless people have access to facilities that allow them to adhere to public health guidance on hygiene or isolation in order to lower the risk of transmission to themselves and others.”

Monmouthshire council’s cabinet member for social justice and community development Cllr Sara Jones said: “The council’s housing team is looking for suitable properties that could be used for emergency short-term accommodation.

“I’d be very grateful if landlords or owners of vacant properties we could rent on a temporary basis would get in touch with us.”

For more information, or to help provide accommodation, contact Lindsay Stewart on 01291 635713 or 07899 040624. Lindsay can also be contacted by email on lindsaystewart@monmouthshire.gov.uk.