Homelessness In Wales

On a slightly different note this week, I would like to focus on the issue of Homelessness in Wales.

The last few years of recession have had a serious impact on the lives of so many people, across Wales and further afield, and this impact can be seen vividly in the rise of homelessness. In 2011 figures suggest that Homelessness in Wales rose 11% on the previous year.

In Swansea, the number of people “seeking help” with regards to homelessness was 2,945. Since these figures only contain those who sought help we must assume that the real figures for homelessness are indeed higher still.

While The Times Rich List reports record earnings for the 1%, people in Wales are being forced from their homes and onto the streets, all the while the Con-Dem government asks us to believe that we are all in this together.

The BBC recently aired a documentary that followed the lives of a number of homeless men and women on the streets of Swansea. I would recommend it to anyone. Making people aware of this issue is a necessity. However, awareness alone will not solve our concerns.

We need to call on the government in Westminster and in the Bay to do more, to do much more! To help and support our nation’s most vulnerable. There are plenty of charities in Wales that do excellent work to help those most in need, for example The Wallich and Shelter Cymru.

However, with such a dramatic increase in homelessness and less money being raised through donations in these tough times, such charities find themselves swimming against the tide. It is with this in mind that Zachary Ripley, Rhodri Schelewa-Davies, and I decided to walk the 177 mile Offa’s dyke national trail, which runs along the border of Wales and England.

We will be camping along the way for 14 days and nights and we are doing so to raise money for 'The Wallich.' So please check out our page, share it with friends and donate.

Any contributions will be greatly appreciated.

Glenn Page
Press and Communications Officer

To donate, please go here: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=RhodriZacharyGlenn&isTeam=true

Figures obtained from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-17303892

You can watch Swansea living on the streets here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01db84y

The Wallich:
www.thewallich.com

Shelter Cymru:
http://www.sheltercymru.org.uk