Homeless people being housed at a hotel in Neath are being abused and wrongly accused of anti-social behaviour, according to the local council.
Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic over a year ago, more than 170 individuals and families have been placed in the Ambassador Hotel in the centre of Neath. These people were just some of the 600 individuals that Neath Port Talbot Council has put in temporary accommodation during this time, following guidance from the Welsh Government issued in March, 2020, which stated that any household or individual without a place to live should be offered somewhere to stay.
The Ambassador Hotel, located in The Parade, was already in use by the council's Housing Options service but, due to increased demand brought about by the pandemic, it is now being used to full capacity.
The council has said that, while there was initially anti-social behaviour associated with the hotel’s residents, this situation has “changed considerably” since then and recent incidents in the town centre have nothing to do with people staying at the hotel.
However, it appears that residents continue to be the target of abuse, as well as council and hotel staff who are being attacked on social media.
A spokesman for Neath Port Talbot Council said: “Council staff are working continuously with the hotel staff, police and other support agencies to ensure support is in place for all people residing in the Ambassador Hotel, including a number of vulnerable people. While initially there was anti-social behaviour associated with hotel residents, over recent months this position has changed considerably. Recent spates of anti-social behaviour in the town centre have not involved residents and it is therefore concerning to hear reports of abuse being directed at people who are not the source of these incidents.
“We would also ask please that social media posts are not abusive towards council staff, hotel staff or other supporting workers as a considerable amount of work is being carried out by them on a daily basis to meet the stipulated requirements.”
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The current arrangement at the Ambassador Hotel is temporary, the council has said, and is made possible with funding from the Welsh Government and support from a number of the council’s partner agencies. The council is also working with hotel staff and police to make sure support is in place for everyone currently residing there.
Meanwhile, plans are being developed to offer alternative options for homeless people that are “more appropriate and sustainable”.
