Members of Plaid Cymru Arfon have expressed their concerns at anecdotal evidence of a dramatic increase in rough sleeping in Bangor.

Catrin Wager, one of Bangor’s county councillors, met with Sian Gwenllian AM last week to discuss a solution to the problem.

Agencies dealing with the homeless in Bangor are reporting what they see as an increase in the numbers of people needing shelter.

“I’ve noticed an increase myself when I’ve been out and about in Bangor, and people are telling me that they feel there’s been an increase too,” said Cllr. Wager.

“I’ve had people in various agencies telling me that there may be as many as 80 people sleeping rough in Bangor at the moment.

“There is some excellent support for the homeless in Bangor, but we lack emergency shelter for people finding themselves newly or temporarily homeless.

I would like to see a centre developed in the city where people can stay for as little as one night if they need a stop-gap due to unforeseen circumstances in their situation.

I would also like to see a place where homeless people can go to see a doctor, to have a shower or use a laundrette, or take their dog to see a vet.”

The concerns for homelessness in Bangor and in many other parts of Wales was debated in the Senedd last week.

Plaid Cymru led a National Assembly debate into the growing crisis of homelessness and rough sleeping in Wales.

They called on the Welsh Government for a change of policy and a change of philosophy towards homelessness and rough sleeping.

Arfon AM Sian Gwenllian added: “Homelessness is often seen as an urban and big city issue, but I am acutely aware that we have people sleeping rough in Arfon.

"No part of Wales is immune to this crisis, and I am alarmed to hear of the concerns around an increase in rough sleeping in Bangor.

"I fully support Cllr. Catrin Wager in her discussions with Bangor homelessness agencies and hope that something can be done quickly in order to offer extra shelter to those who need it."

Plaid Cymru has argued for a move towards a housing first policy, which would offer a guarantee of housing to those that need it and ending the system of priority need.