MORE funding to tackle youth homelessness and rough sleeping across Wales has been announced by Welsh Government. (WG)

Cabinet secretary for communities and children, Carl Sargeant, confirmed yesterday that an extra £500,000 would be added to an existing pot of £2.1million to tackle the issue.

The funding will be allocated to various homelessness projects alongside supporting people to find private housing.

Mr Sargeant said "providing people with a safe, warm and secure home remains a key priority"and added that there is more than can be done for rough sleepers and "groups who are struggling to get the help they need".

The announcement coincides with new homelessness figures from April to June 2017 based on information from 21 of the 22 Wales local authorities.

Stats show homelessness was prevented, for at least six months, for 63 households threatened.

Of the 2,652 households assessed as being homeless during April to June, 39 per cent were helped by local authorities to secure accommodation that was likely to last for 6 months.

Stats also show detailed breakdowns of households who "have had assistance provided" from local authorities.

In Newport, 159 were prevented from homelessness, including 90 single person households and a total of 612 households received assistance.

In Torfaen, 117 people were prevented from homelessness, including 63 single person households and 351 service users in total.

Monmouthshire saw 51 prevented from homelessness, including 30 single person households and 108 total service users.

In Caerphilly, there was a prevention figure of 114, including 57 single person households and 387 total service users.

Blaenau Gwent saw 141 using services, with 60 being prevented from homelessness – including 33 single person households.

Chief executive of charity Crisis, Jon Sparkes, said that despite the Welsh Government figures, "people still (are)falling through the cracks" with an increase in the use of temporary accommodation.

"This is worrying because this kind of accommodation is often cramped, sometimes unsuitable, and occasionally even dangerous," he said.

"While it might prevent people sleeping on our streets, in doorways, or in bus shelters it isn’t right that people don’t have a permanent home."

He called for the Welsh Government and councils to work with Crisis on a plan to "end homelessness for good".

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