Homeless people could be housed in private accommodation

The council's budget for placing Wrexham's 942 homeless people in bed and breakfast accommodation was overspent last year by �200,000.

But a report has said there were more than 500 empty private homes in the borough - many classed as "long-term".

The council, which debated the matter on Tuesday, will soon have powers to use long-term empty homes.

"Empty dwelling management orders" were a feature of the Housing Act 2004, and will come into force this autumn.

Using empty properties, which can be a blight on communities as well as a wasted resource, is one way that councils can provide accommodation Shelter Cymru

They could allow a local authority to step in and use a property which has been empty for six months or more, or where the owner is not intending to re-occupy it.

The council could then restore the home to a reasonable standard, before engaging a third party to manage the property.

According to the report, the number of homeless people in Wrexham increased from 696 in 2002/2003 to 942 in 2005/06.

It adds: "We also have a large number of empty homes in the private sector.

"Research has indicated that over 500 have been vacant for more than six months.

"However, staff resources are required to tackle empty properties and to work with their owners to make sure they are brought back into use."

Many homeless people are being housed in bed and breakfast - but the council's budget is massively overspent.

Many homeless people are living in bed and breakfasts

The Welsh Assembly Government wants local authorities to cut their spending on bed and breakfasts.

The report also identifies Wrexham as having the worst record in Wales for returning empty houses to occupation.

Chief housing and public protection officer Andy Lewis said: "Pressure to investigate houses in multiple occupation has meant that few resources have been available to tackle empty homes, with a performance of zero properties returned to occupation in 2005/06, the worst performance amongst Welsh local authorities".

A spokesman for homeless charity Shelter Cymru said: "Using empty properties, which can be a blight on communities as well as a wasted resource, is one way that councils can provide accommodation for households experiencing homelessness.

"With longer-term arrangements such as leasing, a council can offer people more security.

"This is better for the individuals involved in terms of health and well-being than being moved into B&B or other temporary accommodation."

But the charity said affordability and management needed to be addressed, and called on both the assembly government and local authorities to provide more affordable housing.