Homelessness across Ceredigion and Wales as a whole is increasing because of welfare reforms, a homelessness charity has said.

Aberystwyth councillor Mark Strong told the Cambrian News last week how he feared “deaths in doorways” during the winter, and that despite the efforts of charity Ceredigion Care Society, government austerity is putting people at risk.

Guy Evans, executive director of the Care Society, said the charity was working hard to help people but that benefit changes had led to an increase in people forced to sleep onto the streets.

He said that the Aberystwyth night shelter run by the charity had helped 48 people in the 2018/19 financial year, but that in the first six months of the 2019/20 financial year it had already helped 41 people.

Guy said rough sleeping had increased “visibly” in Ceredigion and said the introduction of the benefit cap, Universal Credit and housing benefit freezes had caused problems.

With the Care Society’s workload increasing, Guy said the charity was thankful for the support of the public and was working with partners to develop schemes to help people.

He said: “We are incredibly grateful to the ongoing support of the local community for generous donations we receive throughout the year, but especially at Christmas when situations can become strained.

“We will continue to work strategically with our parent body Tai Ceredigion and Ceredigion County Council to alleviate rough sleeping and homelessness across the county.

“In addition to a specialist care leaver housing and support service we already deliver, we are also opening a new innovative Housing First for Youth project for homeless people between the ages of 16 and 24.”

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