A HOMELESSNESS charity has said it is ‘inhumane’ that more people across Wales are known to be sleeping on the streets.

The Welsh Government’s annual rough sleeper count was published on Tuesday, February 4, and showed a rise in the number of people who are homeless across Wales.

Local authorities across the country estimated that 405 persons were sleeping rough across Wales over the two weeks between October 14 to October 27 – a rise of almost a fifth (17 per cent) compared to previous years.

This data was paired with a snapshot study that reported 176 individuals were observed sleeping rough across Wales between 10pm on November 7 and 5am on November 8.

This was an increase of 18 more people than the previous year.

In Flintshire, 10 people were counted during the two-week period in October – a jump when an estimated three people were recorded in 2018.

Wrexham topped the table for North Wales with 35 people estimated to be sleeping rough during the observation period, however, the numbers have dropped from 57 recorded in 2018 and in 45 in 2017.

Commenting on the figures, the chief executive of homelessness charity Crisis Jon Sparkes said: “No one in our society should be forced to sleep rough. It is simply inhumane that more people across Wales are known to be on the street, where they are at greater risk of damage to their health, being attacked, and even dying at a younger age.

“It is no way for people to have to live and there are clearly some short-term actions needed to stop the situation getting any worse. But the only way to end rough sleeping is prevent it happening in the first place and ensure people can be quickly rehoused if they lose their home.

“There are promising signs in some local council areas that better outreach and offering multi-agency support can help.

Mr Sparkes continues to say that by dealing with the root causes of homelessness and rough sleeping by helping people into accommodation, governments charities and public services can work together to end rough sleeping and homelessness.

He concludes: “While there are no shortcuts, we know with the right measures in place it can be done.”

David Melding AM, the Shadow Minister for Housing, has also responded to the figures, saying that they make for “sadly predictable reading”.

He said: “Welsh Conservatives have made efforts to take party politics out of – as far as possible – this emotive issue. However, to continue to blame the UK Government for a matter that is devolved to the Welsh Government does no-one, especially homeless people, any good.

“I, and my Welsh Conservative colleagues, know that the causes of homelessness are complex, vary from case to case, are not singular but are often multiple, and are unique.

Mr Melding adds that he and his Welsh Conservative colleagues believe the Welsh Labour Government should appoint a homelessness Tsar in Wales to scrutinise the progress of Welsh Government homelessness policies.

He continues: “Our strategy is not the whole vision or solution, but it is a change of direction that would be undertaken by a Welsh Conservative Government, putting the issue of homelessness at the forefront of our administration.

“It is vital that everyone has a safe and supported home to call their own, enabling them to access the public services that we all rely on in a time of need.

“A new Homelessness Tsar would be a champion for the vulnerable and will ensure that the voices of homeless people themselves – who all too often go unheard – will ring out loud.”