Rough sleeper provision in Bridgend County

Bridgend County Borough Council will be teaming up with local organisations such as the Wallich, Pobl and more to support rough sleepers this winter.

The council and these organisations will be working in partnership to make sure that homeless people have a warm, safe place to sleep and can access a range of help and support.

A breakfast run at The Wallich on Park Street operates 365 days a year to offer hot food and drink between 6:30am and 9am as well as sleeping bags, warm clothing, toiletries and other important items.

Between 9.30am and 12noon, Monday to Friday, a drop-in centre will provide a safe environment with washing facilities and telephone and computer access.

Then at night, the floor space scheme will provide a safe, dry and warm place to sleep. This is available between 8pm and 8am, all year round at the Elms on Bridgend Industrial Estate, with extended hours on Bank Holidays or if the weather becomes severe.

The floor space is allocated on a daily basis, and people must present between 3pm and 5pm through the Pobl Local Support Hub which is based in Unit 2, Brackla Street Centre, Bridgend.

People become homeless for all sorts of reasons, and there are a number of local organisations in place to provide help, advice and support. The council’s Housing Solutions team ensures that housing applications can be made all year round and at any time of the night or day.

Working in partnership makes perfect sense as we share the ultimate aim of getting rough sleepers off the street and into full-time accommodation. If anyone is concerned about a rough sleeper, they can alert the local authority by using the Street Link app available at www.streetlink.org.uk

It’s a quick and easy way of ensuring that someone can get access to the help they need.

Councillor Dhanisha Patel, Cabinet Member for Wellbeing and Future Generations Support

• You can contact the Housing Solutions team by calling 01656 643643 or emailing talktous@bridgend.gov.uk