Garmon Rhys The Politics Show Wales

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Around 240 families with children are in B&Bs, says Shelter Cymru

Homeless people are not getting the help they are entitled to because Welsh Councils are breaking the law.

That is the view of the Public Service Ombudsman for Wales, Adam Peat.

He has just published a Special Report arguing that the housing allocation policies of a significant number of councils do not comply with the law.

He says the problem is widespread across Wales and that he has seen a recurrent pattern of failure by Councils to comply with the law.

Tracey Evans and her husband Leigh got into arrears on a loan last year. They and their five children were evicted from their house and became homeless.

The Evans' local authority found them a room in Bed and Breakfast accommodation. One room for seven people.

They lived there for five months and would be there still if a friend had not rented out her small house to them.

Tracey Evans driven to the edge of despair

"I ended up in a B&B. Myself, husband, five children. I had cervical cancer and I was ill in the B&B," said Mrs Evans.

"It was just all in one room. We just lived, breathed, everything in one room, and with me being ill as well ... which wasn't good for the kids to see because I did have bad days.

"And ... nobody there cared, do you know what I mean, nobody.

"So it was hard. It is hard. It was."

This week the National Assembly will vote on limiting the time Councils can place homeless people in basic Bed and Breakfast accommodation to two weeks.

This move is welcomed by Shelter Cymru, who hope that if the motion is passed it could effectively end the practice of placing homeless people in Bed and Breakfasts.

Conservative Conference

Also on the Politics Show in Wales we report from the Welsh Conservative Spring Conference in Llandudno.

Brian Meechan will be asking grass roots members whether they welcome their party's attempts to adopt a more positive attitude towards devolution.

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