North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has hit out at the First Minister for failing to put politics aside to address the problem of the rising number of rough sleepers in Wrexham.
Mr Isherwood questioned Carwyn Jones in the Assembly Chamber this week about the escalating number of rough sleepers in the town, but was disappointed that his response focussed on party politics and not on addressing the issue.
In this week’s ‘Questions to the First Minister’, Mr Isherwood said:
“As a member of the multi-agency and cross-party working group that successfully campaigned under the leadership of community campaigners Together Creating Communities to establish the Tŷ Nos night shelter in Wrexham, it’s particularly frustrating that the Welsh Government’s latest national rough sleeper count not only shows a 72 per cent increase in rough sleepers across Wales, but also that the numbers in Wrexham on the night of the count were up from 17 to 27 on the previous year, and that at 61, Wrexham had the highest proportion of people sleeping rough over a two-week period in Wales - significantly higher, even, than Cardiff.
“How, therefore, do you propose that the Welsh Government should engage with Wrexham Town Centre Forum Steering Group, whose Chair, Andrew Atkinson, has said that it’s time for everyone to put politics aside, stop blaming each other and work together mutually to get to grips with the town’s issues?”
Carwyn Jones replied:
“The Member quotes a Conservative candidate, who, as we know, may not be perhaps the most objective person to quote at this stage. But I have to say that his party has to take responsibility for this. Many people become homeless because of the changes in welfare benefits.”
Mr Isherwood added: “Carwyn Jones’ failure to put party politics aside on this issue was shameful.
“UK Government policy applies across the UK, but the percentage increase in rough sleepers across Wales was almost double the level in England. Welsh Labour Government has been responsible for housing in Wales since 1999. It is they who ignored warnings of a housing supply crisis in Wales and they who are responsible for Wales’ lack of affordable housing.
“It is also they, not the UK Government, who are responsible for services including homelessness, housing advice, housing related support, substance misuse, financial inclusion, community safety, mental health and Veteran’s health in Wales.”