Outdoor education centre could be used to house homeless people during coronavirus crisis

An outdoor education centre in Monmouthshire could be used as temporary emergency accommodation for homeless people during the coronavirus crisis.

The proposal would help tackle a shortage of such accommodation as the county council tries to find homes for increasing numbers of vulnerable people coming forward.

Welsh Government guidance requires councils to safely house and support those who are rough sleeping as a result of the pandemic, to protect them and the wider community.

The facilities at Gilwern Outdoor Education Centre are suited to providing hostel type accommodation due to the availability of a shared kitchen and small bedrooms, a report says.

It is planned to use the centre to house the homeless until August 21, with a maximum of nine residents.

But its rural location is considered “too remote” to provide permanent accommodation.

Housing support will be provided to residents at the centre, which will also have 24-hour security established.

A council report shows the need for accommodation for homeless people in Monmouthshire has “risen significantly.”

Since March 23, the council has made 101 offers of accommodation to vulnerable people, equating to 14 per week which is around three times the normal amount.

But while the council has managed to secure additional accommodation, a report shows it is at capacity with a risk the authority will not be able to meet future demand.

“Due to the increase in numbers needing accommodation, the current ability to assist people with accommodation has become extremely challenging due to the lack of accommodation,” the report says.

“This has been compounded by the closure of one local B & B establishment, a request from Newport City Council to move Monmouthshire applicants out of Newport to enable them to address their own accommodation demand, and the availability of social housing through the Homesearch partnership has virtually disappeared.”

Homeless applicants are now “bottle-necking in temporary accommodation” due to the lack of social and private sector accommodation, the report says.

This includes 28 applicants currently in bed and breakfast accommodation, with the number expected to rise.

The majority of people recently applying for accommodation have been single males, including some who have mental health, substance abuse and offending behaviour issues.

Some have been rough sleepers and those applying have been as young as 16-years-old.

Monmouthshire council’s cabinet will consider approving the use of the Gilwern centre as emergency accommodation at a meeting next Wednesday, May 27.