Council scheme offers home to rough sleepers

Sadie O’Connor (Senior Housing Advice Officer), Byron Jones (Homeless Prevention Officer) & Suzanne Cousins (Housing Solutions Manager) prepare to show prospective tenants their new home

A scheme launched by Caerphilly County Borough Council to help prevent homelessness has now been expanded to house rough sleepers.

The Caerphilly Keys initiative was launched by the council to help find sustainable homes for those at risk of homelessness and at the same time help private landlords find suitable, long term tenants. Since its launch in August 2018 the scheme has successfully supported 46 households into long term housing.

One private landlord in the Caerphilly area has now offered to provide a secure home for rough sleepers in the county borough.  Preparations are currently underway for two people to move into their new homes within the coming weeks.

Through Caerphilly Keys the council match people to suitable properties then work with both the tenant and landlord to sustain the tenancy. The service is provided free of charge, with viewings and quarterly monitoring visits arranged by the Caerphilly Keys team.

Cllr Lisa Phipps, the council’s Cabinet Member for Homes and Places, said “Partnership working between the council and landlords lies at the heart of Caerphilly Keys’ success. The scheme has already delivered excellent results in preventing homelessness; to also now find homes for those who’ve found themselves living on our streets is incredibly welcome news.

I’d like to thank the landlords already involved in Caerphilly Keys and to encourage others to work with us to help end homelessness in the county borough.”

Private landlords who would like to find out more about Caerphilly Keys can call 01443 873564 or email keys@caerphilly.gov.uk