We ask what you think of homelessness in Newport

BEING confronted by an aggressive beggar or seeing someone sleeping in a doorway can be unnerving for anyone and for many it creates a bad impression of our city.

And while Newport has benefited in recent years from huge investment in city centre housing and the Friars Walk shopping centre, it is also seeing an increase in the number of people sleeping on the streets.

For many of the smaller independent traders it is having a negative impact on the impression of Newport.

The issue is complicated by the fact that there are also street beggars operating in Newport, who are not necessarily homeless and who can sometimes be aggressive.

Kevin Ward, manager of the Newport Now Business Improvement District (BID), which represents 400 city centre businesses, says this is one of the complicating factors in a complex issue.

“Not all beggars are homeless, and not all rough sleepers are beggars,” he said.

But added rough sleepers and street beggars are key issues for the businesses he represents.

“If you run a business in the city centre you are concerned primarily with what is happening on your doorstep rather than the situation in other towns and cities,” he said.

“We recognise and applaud the instinct to help those in need, but more often than not those who give directly to street beggars and unwittingly contributing towards their next drugs fix rather than helping them buy a drink or a sandwich.”

The BID is in discussion with the council and Gwent Police about these issues and will also be launching a diverted giving scheme in partnership with charity, The Wallich, next year.

The BID-funded scheme aims to provide a safe and secure alternative to giving money to street beggars, with funds being ring fenced to help charities deliver their vital services.

Mr Ward added: “This is not about businesses saying ‘don’t give to beggars’.

“It’s about giving people an alternative method of donation to a fund that will be ring-fenced to provide help for those who need help the most in our city centre.”

This is a view mirrored by Gwent Police who warn shoppers and residents about the importance of thinking before giving away change.

Gwent Police’s Newport inspector, Rob Jenkins, explained there is a “small minority” of people who are not homeless or in need of support in our city.

“These individuals often beg to fund their lifestyle,” he said.

“I would encourage members of the public to donate through recognised charities rather than give directly to those that are begging.

“This can often prevent them from seeking help from appropriate partners. However, begging is a criminal offence and those that are doing the most harm to the community will be dealt with appropriately.”

City centre businesses say it is a real issue for them.

Rebecca Phillips, of Lillie’s Café in Skinner Street, said she was shocked by the number of homeless people on the streets and added that customers from outside the area regularly comment to her about the visibility of street homeless.

“There are quite a few apartments being built in the city centre and every day the construction workers, who are not from the area, say how shocking it has become.

Georgina Marks, of Big Bite Diner, in Commercial Street, said: “In this weather no one should be out on the street,” but she added that many suffered from addiction and that open drug use on the streets is not uncommon.

“It’s way too cold and that’s the problem. When they end up on the street and the cold they’re going to take something to keep them going”.

While the diner regularly supports a homeless woman, who has become well-known to customers, Ms Marks said they are concerned about the increasing visibility of Newport’s street homeless.

“That’s just from what I see in the High Street never mind wherever they’re tucked away”.

Pritchie’s Café, in Commercial Street, has supported homeless people in the past, including hosting a free Christmas meal last year.

However, its owner Susan Pritchard – who has run the business for two years the issue does have a negative effect on perceptions of Newport.

“There have always been homeless people but not like it is today,” she said. “People come here and all they see is people sitting in doorways and begging.”

Mark Fredrickson, of Little Steak Hut, based at Spytty Retail Park, recently worked with charity One Step at a Time to feed Newport’s rough sleepers and plans to run similar events on a monthly basis.

“They’re human after all, all from different backgrounds and it’s unfortunate they’re in that position but it definitely doesn’t look too good for our economy or local businesses,” he said.

Business-owner Shane Richard Jordan, of Newport’s Sin City Comics, added that the rise in rough sleeping “doesn’t look good for Newport” describing it as a “heart-breaking story”.

He added that because Newport is a relatively small city, the problem is more visible.

Mr Jordan said he helped establish Newport’s comic con event, GeekedFest, to reverse perceptions of Newport as a “rough place” but added people regularly sleeping in doorways doesn’t help Newport’s image.

“I think people need to understand a bit more what is going on as, with everything, it gets brushed under the carpet,” he said.

As reported earlier this week much is being done by the city council and charitable organisations to try to help the homeless and rough sleepers in the city but according to the leader of the Conservative group on Newport council, Matthew Evans, it has become one of the ‘major issues’ in Newport and he has called for more support for the charities involved.

He added residents are concerned about the issue, saying many street beggars are not homeless and that giving them money is “feeding the problem”.

“There are genuine cases which are heart-breaking and very sad and we shouldn’t really see them in our city,” he said.

“There are also a number of residents who feel intimidated and don’t like walking through the city centre at night and that’s something we can’t allow.”

Council leader Debbie Wilcox added the council wants “every person in Newport to have a safe place to sleep every night”.

“We work closely with other organisations across the city and there’s a range of services available offering help with accessing accommodation and support,” she said.

“We recognise that the number of people presenting as homeless and sleeping rough, not just in Newport but across the country, is increasing and we take the problem extremely seriously”.

Labour councillor Majid Rahman, of Victoria ward, emphasised that the actual numbers of people sleeping rough is small, but added: “Whilst people sleeping on the streets are the most visible, it is important that there is continued support.”

He said tackling the causes of homelessness and rough sleeping was key.

And added: “Unfortunately, in the current climate of austerity, we may see a rise in people sleeping rough as services are rolled back or cut all together”.

YOUR SAY

HOMELESSNESS affects businesses big time. I believe Newport should up their game with the mental health system.

“Really clamp down on it with more mental health rather than giving them money to feed their habits and sit out on beds in the streets.

“When people ask me where I live now I say I’m from Casnewydd. I’m so ashamed now of what Newport has become”.

CONCERN: Graduate Leah Powell

“HOMELESSNESS does change perceptions of Newport.

By the bank you have got a line of people asking for money.

“It’s not nice for the shoppers.

“At the same time, they also need help.

“There needs to be something done about it”.

SYSTEM: Andrea Warren

“MANY homeless people sit by cash points, which makes me feel uncomfortable and guilty for denying them money.

“I understand why they need to beg, however this is a temporary solution and I think more needs to be done to help these people. ”I’ve worked on the high street for many years now and I’ve seen how rough sleeping changes a person. “Their mental health suffers, the way they look at the world changes, and they just end up feeling helpless.”

PERCEPTION: Tina Thomson

Tomorrow we look at what could be done to try to tackle the city’s homelessness problem.