Risk of homelessness growing in Newport

Local TV

Newport City Council have said they are implementing new plans to tackle the growing risk of homelessness across the city. With population growth far outpacing housing numbers, more and more people could risk losing their homes, and new houses are needed if anything is to change.

Transcript

00:00Newport City Council says it's made real progress in tackling homelessness, halving the number

00:06of rough sleepers, and moving more families from temporary housing into more stable homes.

00:11But despite that, the council has warned that unprecedented housing pressures are putting

00:15more and more people at risk of losing their homes, and say demand for properties in Wales'

00:19fastest growing city now far outstrips supply.

00:24Cabinet Member for Housing Councillor Saeed Adhan said it's vital to change public attitudes

00:28around homelessness, challenging the idea that it only happens to rough sleepers or people

00:33who've made poor choices.

00:35He says the council regularly hears from people affected by debt, domestic abuse, or private

00:40landlords pulling out of the market.

00:43Council leader Dimitri Petruni added that rent levels in Newport private sector are ridiculous,

00:48and often higher than mortgage repayments.

00:50He says many people are doing everything right, working multiple jobs, paying their way etc,

00:55but are still only one setback away from crisis.

00:58Between 2011 and 2021, Newport's population grew by almost 10%, the fastest rise anywhere

01:06in Wales, and that pressure is being felt now.

01:09The council is preparing a new local development plan and says that more than 700 one-bedroom

01:14homes are urgently needed.

01:16It's also commissioning a dedicated review of HMOs, houses of multiple occupancy, to tighten

01:23rules around the spread and strain they can place on services.

01:28The Petruni says families have been prioritised for housing to help reduce the childhood trauma

01:32and break long-term cycle of homelessness, but warns that more investment and better planning

01:38is essential if Newport is to cope with future pressures.

01:41James Peach Watkins reporting for Local TV.

01:43Candidate

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