Council considers Rapid Rehousing Plan
The Vale of Glamorgan Council is considering a Rapid Rehousing Plan to help ensure that anyone experiencing homelessness can move into a settled home as quickly as possible.
This is an alternative to staying in temporary accommodation and hotels for long periods of time.
The Council had stopped using hotels and B&B accommodation a number of years ago, but the high numbers of homeless people during the pandemic and the significant shortage of affordable housing left few other options.
Currently, there are around 240 households living in temporary accommodation, of which a third is hotel or bed and breakfast-type provision.
A report on the Rapid Rehousing Plan was discussed by the Council’s Cabinet and will now be considered by
Scrutiny Committee.
It sets out how the use of hotels and other forms of unsuitable temporary accommodation can be reduced over the next financial year by implementing some key actions.
These include:
• Building more social housing.
• Increasing the number of Council-owned temporary accommodation units.
• Securing greater access to private rental homes.
• Remodelling existing Council homes to cater for larger numbers of single people.
• Prioritising homeless people living in temporary accommodation for placement in social rented housing.
Cllr Lis Burnett, Leader of the Vale of Glamorgan Council, said: “There are acute pressures facing the Council’s Housing Department at the moment, with one issue being the number of people living in temporary hotel placements.
“This is inappropriate and unsuitable for many reasons, including the lack of cooking facilities, and is also the most expensive form of accommodation.
“We need to reduce the use of the number of people in these locations and this plan explains how that might be achieved.
“Proposals involve building more social housing, increasing the number of Council units available for single people and working with private landlords to boost capacity.
“We might also be able to make access to more permanent housing easier for those in temporary accommodation.
“I look forward to hearing the views of Scrutiny Committee on this matter as we consider the best way forward.”