Residents are being asked to help identify anyone that may be sleeping rough in the county to enable the council to support them.
Members of the public can report any instances of rough sleeping they come across to Powys County Council’s Housing Service on 01597 827464.A recent one-night survey found that there were no rough sleepers in the county. Officers from the council’s Housing Services, together with colleagues from support agencies carried out the count of rough sleepers in Powys last November.The count is an annual survey undertaken by local authorities in Wales and their partners. Sixteen volunteers, operating in pairs, were out and about across the county between 11pm and 3am on 25/26 November 2015 and the council is pleased to advise that no instances of rough sleeping were recorded during this exercise. Whilst this is encouraging, the council recognises it represents a snap-shot on one night and therefore they are asking the public to let them know of anyone they see sleeping rough.Legislation governing how local authorities deal with people presenting as homeless or at risk of becoming homeless changed considerably in April 2015.Cllr Darren Mayor, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “There is now much more emphasis on the prevention and alleviation of homelessness. Officers within our Housing Service work with people who are at risk of homelessness by assessing their circumstances and creating a Housing Plan which details the steps the individual and the council will take to reach a housing solution.”In the first six months of the new legislation being in place, the council’s Housing Service dealt with 236 homelessness presentations and successfully prevented or alleviated homelessness in over 65% of these cases.For those who feel their housing may be at risk, or to report an instance of rough sleeping contact Powys County Council’s Housing Service on 01597 827464.
Powys County Council.
