A project designed to help Pembrokeshire’s most vulnerable homeless people into permanent accommodation has been a big success, statistics have shown this week.

The Rough Sleeper Support Scheme, which is fully funded by Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC) and managed by Pembrokeshire Care Society, has been a vitally important project in helping homeless people over the cold winter months.

Support has long been been provided by both PCC and ourselves to help homeless people into accommodation, and this new Rough Sleeper Support Scheme has just extended that even further.

Anyone who is rough sleeping can contact us on 01437 765335 or pcs@pembrokeshirecaresociety.org.uk between 9am and 5pm. For out of hours assistance, PCC can be contacted on 0300 333 2222.

Statistics from this project have shown, so far, that 36 rough sleepers have been supported by the additional funding.

Of those 36 people, 33 were men and three were women, ranging from 18 to 70 years old and more than 90% were British nationals.

A big part of the project is particularly focused on raising awareness of the homelessness issue within the county – so both members of the public and any rough sleepers themselves are more aware of our charity and the help we can provide.

Flyers have been designed and distributed in rough sleeper hot spots around the county and we have received several reports from members of the public that our team members have been able to follow-up successfully.

We’ve also been distributing rough sleeper packs as an emergency measure for rough sleepers to keep them warm, dry and fed. The packs include tents, jackets, boots, mobile phone chargers, food parcels and more.

These packs are not part of the Rough Sleeper Support Scheme or funded by PCC and are provided by us as an emergency solution before more permanent accommodation can be accessed.

Several donations from members of the public, as well as a £5000 donation from the Milford Haven Port Authority, have helped the charity buy these kits.