Ynys Môn AM calls for investment in eradicating homelessness after death of local man

Plaid Cymru Assembly Member for Ynys Môn Rhun ap Iorwerth has paid tribute to Paul Daniel Hughes, a homeless man whose body was recently found in Llangefni, in the National Assembly for Wales, and urged Welsh Government to invest properly to eradicate homelessness so that tragic cases like Mr Hughes’ passing cannot occur again.

Mr Hughes lived in a tent on the banks of the Afon Cefni for a number of months before his death after being kicked out of a hostel for stealing a sandwich from one of his housemates.

He had previously admitted to stealing, simply so that he could go to jail and get a roof over his head, after being made homeless following the death of his mother.

Plaid Cymru AM Mr ap Iorwerth paid tribute to Mr Hughes, saying:

“I am truly saddened to learn of the passing of Paul Daniel Hughes, a homeless man who felt like he had nowhere to turn because of the situation he was in, with very little support available to him to lift him out of the difficult circumstances he found himself in.

“My team actively sought to help Paul but numerous referrals to local organisations and authorities and interventions failed to bear fruit because of the crippled public services we are forced to work with these days.

“Paul’s death is a reminder that any and all of us can fall on hard times, and when people do face such difficulties they must have all the support they need to help them recover.

“Paul was a man who genuinely wanted to turn his life around. Dealing with a society and support system that has been ravaged by cuts to resources and funding designed to help with situations like this means that the system utterly failed him.

“It is because of people like Paul that we must invest properly in eradicating homelessness, and nothing but an increase funding available for this is acceptable.”