‘Inspirational’ homelessness team welcome Senedd member

‘Inspirational’ is how a Welsh politician describes the work of The Salvation Army’s Housing First team in Cardiff.

Sian Gwenllian MS for Arfon is a member of the Local Government and Housing Committee in the Senedd, the Welsh Parliament.

Housing First is for people whose housing need is made harder by experiences with trauma, addictions and mental health. These experiences often prolong the time that people remain homeless or sleeping rough. Housing First provides access to a safe, secure home to support people to build and live their lives as part of a community.

During her visit to Crichton House, Ms Gwenllian met Chris and Wayne, both Housing First tenants, who explained how the Housing First project changed their lives. Financial problems meant Chris had been living in a van. He is now thriving in his own flat just outside Cardiff. Chris said:

“The support from The Salvation Army is amazing. They have helped with my health, my benefits, with getting items for my house. It’s made a huge difference and turned my life around. I’ve gone from the dark times of experiencing homelessness to living in a community and being a respected part of that community.”

Wayne was homeless for around 20 years before receiving support from The Salvation Army’s Housing First team:

“I’ve experienced homelessness on-and-off since I was 15. I’ve struggled with my mental health and addiction to alcohol and drugs. The team at Housing First were there for me at every turn. It was unconditional support. Since getting my own home, I’ve also reconnected with some of my family especially my daughter for the first time in 20 years.”

Wayne recently featured in the documentary ‘Prince William: We Can End Homelessness’ shown on ITV where he met The Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle.

Sian Gwenllian described the work of The Salvation Army’s Housing First project as truly life changing:

“Hearing directly from Chris and Wayne about their journeys shows the power of stable housing and compassionate support. Projects like this prove that with the right approach, we can break the cycle of homelessness and give people the chance to rebuild their lives. Their work is inspirational.”

The Salvation Army’s Housing First was established in 2017 and works alongside other types of homelessness support in the city.