Council seeks vacant properties to accommodate homeless over pandemic Monmouthshire County Council has issued an appeal to owners of vacant properties to make them available as temporary accommodation. The properties would be used to give shelter to homeless people while the coronavirus pandemic persists, and the council would be particularly interested in rented accommodation, holiday lets and rooms in B & B’s or hotels in the county. The council would take responsibility for paying rent for properties or rooms during the course of the arrangement. The pandemic has highlighted specific issues that have an adverse effect on vulnerable people and Welsh Government guidance seeks to address these, in particular those relating to rough sleepers. The council has to ensure that homeless people have access to facilities that allow them to adhere to public health guidance on hygiene or isolation in order to lower the risk of transmission to themselves and others. As a result, the council is charged with increasing the availability of emergency accommodation. Monmouthshire’s cabinet member for Social Justice and Community Development, Councillor Sara Jones said: “The council’s housing team is looking for suitable properties that could be used for emergency short-term accommodation. I’d be very grateful if landlords or owners of vacant properties we could rent on a temporary basis would get in touch with us.” Landlords and property owners able to help the council or seeking further information should contact Lindsay Stewart – lindsaystewart@monmouthshire.gov.uk – telephone 01291 635713 or 07899 040624.