Nearly 7,000 people are on the waiting list for a council house in the Vale of Glamorgan, as revealed by the leader of the county council, Cllr Lis Burnett. During a recent full council meeting, Cllr Burnett shared that 6,930 applicants were registered on the local authority’s council housing scheme, Homes4U, as of September 23. Responding to a question about housing and homelessness figures raised by Cllr Belinda Loveluck-Edwards, the council leader also noted that 204 households were identified as homeless.
Highlighting the housing challenges faced by the region, Cllr Burnett remarked on the shift from a time when the council took pride in having no residents in temporary accommodation back in 2013 to the current housing crisis in the UK. The latest statistics are a stark reminder of the pressing need for affordable housing solutions in the Vale of Glamorgan.
In a report from February 2024, it was noted that 6,200 people were already waiting for council housing in the region. The Vale Council’s report further detailed that 19% of those on the list were considered to be in high-need categories, encompassing individuals fleeing domestic abuse and those with severe medical conditions.
The council has been utilising resources such as the Rhoose Holiday Inn Express to provide emergency accommodation for those in need. Currently, there are 71 individuals placed in hotels and bed and breakfasts, including four families with children. Over the past year, a total of 49 families have been provided temporary accommodation, underscoring the persistent demand for housing support.
Vale of Glamorgan Council maintains a contract with the Holiday Inn Express in Rhoose until March 31, 2025, but aims to reduce reliance on such temporary accommodation in the future. Efforts are being made to explore alternative housing options, including council homes and privately rented properties, to address the needs of individuals and families at risk of homelessness.
At a scrutiny committee meeting earlier this year, the council’s operational manager for public housing services, Nick Jones, highlighted the varying timelines for accommodation placement, with families typically staying for three to five months, while single individuals may face longer wait times of up to 16 months or more. These insights shed light on the complex challenges surrounding housing accessibility and support services in the Vale of Glamorgan.