A Cardiff Council cabinet member has opened up on the crisis in housing vulnerable children in the city. Council data shows that the number of children in residential care in Cardiff has increased by nearly 50% over the past four years. Many of these children who are in need of accommodation are also being housed outside of Cardiff.
In an interview with the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Cardiff Council's cabinet member for children's services, Councillor Ash Lister, said the council partly aims to solve these challenges by purchasing more properties in the city. However, he added that this will not be an overnight fix.
"In terms of the children that are presenting, there are complex needs and I think we have seen more of that since the pandemic," said Cllr Lister. "You look at the impact that the pandemic had on children and young people's mental health, their behaviour, their ability to socialise - it has presented real challenges which are now having more of a knock on."
