MICHAEL SHEEN, the Hollywood actor and Welsh campaigner is petitioning the Welsh Government in a bid to end the housing of homeless teenagers in what he calls ‘unsuitable’ bed and breakfast accommodation. Sheen is collecting signatures (of which he now has over 25,000 of the 35,000 required) to try and make the Government make use of the “fantastic network of charities that can provide safe places for homeless teenagers to get back on their feet”.
His statement on his Change.org petition reads: “This Christmas there will be a 16 or 17 year old that finds themselves homeless, it must be a terrifying situation to be in. But just when they need a place of safety, some teenagers are put into unsuitable bed and breakfast accommodation by local authorities. “Scared, frightened, abandoned and hungry is how many describe the experience. In the worst cases young people have reported sexual assault, after being put into rooms with no locks in a house full of strangers.
“That’s why I’ve started this petition calling on the Welsh Government to put an end to homeless teenagers being put into bed and breakfast accommodation, no exceptions. “There is a fantastic network of charities across Wales that can provide safe places for homeless teenagers to get back on their feet — in warm, clean accommodation with staff who are trained to help. “But End Youth Homelessness Cymru say that local authorities place around a hundred 16 and 17 year olds into unsuitable bed and breakfast accommodation every year and this number is rising.
“Guidance in England says teenagers should never be put into B&Bs. In a recent debate at the Welsh Assembly officials said they would look again at the guidance local authorities are given here. If people across Wales come together on this issue – we can convince the Welsh Government to make the change needed. “All we are asking for is that homeless teenagers have a place of safety, a shower, a hot meal and someone to talk to. I don’t think it’s too much to ask of our Government this Christmas”.
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