Alt.Cardiff Magazine The Homelessness at Christmas Issue

January 2024 Issue 1

alt.Cardiff Image credit: Matt Collamer

If it’s offbeat and in Cardiff, then it’s in here

Violence, displacement and freezing temperatures

Why Christmas is so dangerous for rough sleepers What’s inside Why fresh and nutritous food is becoming increasingly inaccessible

An interview with Liam Jones, owner of Overseas Apparel

Where to see and support local musical talent over the festive season

The dangers of being homeless in Cardiff at Christmas

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News

Rhiannon Crocombe shows off her organic veg

Rising music stars given the main stage this Christmas

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ardiff-based music venue Acapela Studio is giving artists a platform over the festive period for their ’12 nights of Christmas’ shows. The venue is hosting global artists such as Australian guitarist Daniel Champagne as well as local rising stars.

Performing her first headline show is Welsh singer-songwriter Molly Roberts, currently featured on BBC Radio Wales’ A-list.

Known as the Land of Song, living in Wales has hugely influenced the 22-year-old’s music, stating “Music is a huge part of Welsh culture.”

The inaccessibility of nutritious and fresh food due to rising costs Winter is the season for healthy, nutritious food to avoid a cold, but many people in Cardiff cannot afford to due to rising food costs

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eople in Cardiff are choosing to buy cheaper, more processed foods that will last longer, and are avoiding buying as much fresh produce, due to the rise in food prices which have gone up by 12.2% since September 2023.

An October study by the BBC Good Food Nation found that 28% of people in the UK are eating less healthily due to the current cost of fresh and healthy food, with 19% of the 2,013 people surveyed saying they have turned to processed foods due to them being cheaper.

With winter now upon us, it is more important than ever for people to be taking care of their diet, with healthy eating helping “To better protect people from winter illnesses” according to the British Heart Foundation.

This is supported and encouraged by Wales Centre for Public Policy who state, “Lacking stable access to affordable, good quality food can be extremely damaging.”

This hike in food prices has been felt in Cardiff, with Rhiannon Crocombe, an assistant grower at Coed Organic, a market garden in south Wales, stating that as fuel has become more expensive, they have been forced to raise the prices their organic produce this year. “We’ve had to put them up, they’ve gone up about 10% this year, which is quite a lot, quite a hike” she said.

This has not proven popular with frequent buyers who have been leaving “Negative feedback” due to the price rises and are instead having to fill their cupboards with tins and frozen meals as they cannot afford the pricier produce.

The veg-expert added fresh food options are key to a healthy lifestyle, saying they are: “What we need, vitamins andminerals.”

Cardiff resident Sharon Deem said she has noticed herself buying less fresh food due to the costs, stating she tries to make it last as long as possible. The 65-year-old further stated that she was concerned about her health because of this. “If you don’t eat properly, you don’t stay healthy, but what can you do?”

Words by Hansa Tote

January 2024 | Issue 1

Acapela Studio is playing a vital role by giving local artists a platform, allowing people to discover and support emerging Welsh talent. Roberts highlighted the importance of the exposure in order to inspire the next generation of Welsh musicians.

Paul James, programme director at Acapela Studio said they are “Extremely pleased to help Molly” on her journey. He added the importance of Welsh musicians playing a stronger part in the wider music scene.

Parking permits and their impact on small businesses

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usinessman Kimat Singh, says the council should get rid of zonal parking permits in Cathays and “Go back to normal.”

Singh owns Bar 105 on Cathays Terrace, and has seen a significant decline in the number of customers since the introduction of the permits. “At least 30%” in the last year alone.

Prior to the permits, people would stop by the bar for a quick drink on their way home from work. Now there is nowhere to park, this passing trade is a thing of the past.

He said the introduction of the permits in 2021 has been the most impactful change to business ever.

Singh now has to park further away as he cannot afford to be spending money on a business parking permit. They cost £40 for the year, which is more than the profit he makes some evenings.

Serdar Ali, who owns Coffee Tree on Cathays Terrace also said he has seen a reduction in customers because parking is now “Very difficult.”

If the permits had been in place when he opened the bar, Singh would have reconsidered buying it due to there being nowhere for customers to park.

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Interview

Alt.Cardiff NO 1

Conversations with a CEO

Liam Jones

Overseas Apparel Shop owner and clothes designer Liam Jones discusses how he stayed true to himself when creating his business and why every brand should have a social side.

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Trials and tribulations of t only 26 years old, Cardiff being a young CEO resident Liam Jones is the CEO of his own clothing Having started the brand at brand, Over Seas Apparel, in the only 18, Jones has faced his fair Royal Arcade. share of challenges as a young “I was never very good at ticking CEO, especially while staying as boxes in school,” Jones authentically him as possible. explains, he just wanted to do “I’m a bit of a doughnut in the something creative. So when the sense that I don’t pretend to be opportunity to open a pop-up something I’m not” Jones says, shop following an art course explaining he would never dress arose, he jumped at the chance. like a “businessperson”, he Now, nearly eight years on, wants to dress as himself. the business owner reflects Wearing one of his own hoodies on everything the brand has and jeans, Jones does not look achieved.

“I’m a bit of a doughnut in the like a stereotypical Unlike a typical boss, businessman, but instead Jones prioritises the sense that I don’t pretend to be someone that is proud of social side of having a the brand he has created. something I’m not” shop rather than sales.

He describes selling clothes as He thinks some people don’t a by-product of what his actual the then-novice runner decided take him seriously due to the job is, which he says is: “Meeting to form his own.

“Old-school way” of looking people and just having a good at things that is so ingrained in laugh.”

“I wanted to aim at people businesses.

The shop is something he has that wouldn’t usually go for a “They think that I’m just a kid,” always wanted, reminiscing on run, just to get them out of the he sighs, recalling an interaction weekends spent with his father with his former retail landlord house,” Jones says earnestly, in the city’s arcades as a child. who dismissed his jeans and stating they finish each run at “It’s crazy”, Jones says, almost in the pub, ensuring that nonhoodie look. disbelief, saying the shop is one Refusing to give into other’s runners who might simply want of his biggest achievements. assumptions, Jones knows that if a catch-up are included. he puts his mind to something it will work, saying he “Won’t let Jones wants to help people it not.”

Running to help curb meet others, saying some of the These challenges have not loneliness attendees did not know anyone dampened Jones’s ambitions – he in Cardiff prior to the club, wants to open four more stores As well as selling clothes, Jones chuckling that one member is globally. After this he wants has started a weekly running “Stuck with us forever.” to disappear and “Never come club After taking up running back”, knowing he has achieved a over lockdown but not feeling lifelong dream. confident enough to join a club,

January 2024 | Issue 1

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Long read Feature

Joy to all men...

Unless you’re homeless Christmas is a a time for generosity and kindness, with people flocking to Cardiff f to do their gift shopping. But what about the locals that make the streets of the city their home?

4 January 2024 | Issue 1

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Alt.Cardiff NO 1

St John Street in Cardiff is transformed into a replica

Lapland for the Christmas markets from 10 November until 23 December. The stalls provide shoppers the chance to splash the cash, do their gift buying, indulge in festive food, and warm up with a mulled wine.

A mere stone’s throw away from the lavish markets, hidden away like a secret are many homeless people, sleeping rough in the freezing temperatures. These men and women sit and watch people spend with frivolity while being ignored and looked straight through.

In October 2023, Cardiff Council’s cabinet member for housing and communities Councillor Lynda Thorne was quoted by Wales Online stating homelessness is going to get a lot worse before it gets better and recent statistics have proven her correct.

From 2020 until 2022, Wales suspended the rough sleeper count due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with the Chief Statistician alsopandemic, with the Chief Statistician also deciding not to restart it in 2023 due to a lack of data availability. Instead, monthly management statistics have replaced it, with the latest figures from Welsh government estimating 135 rough sleepers in Wales.

It’s the most dangerous time of the year

Christmas is an especially dangerous time of year to be sleeping rough according to Thorne.

She attributed the rise in danger not only to the below freezing temperatures, but also the increased foot traffic through the city with people visiting the city centre to celebrate the festive season. The councillor said not all the visitors are “Very benevolent”, and some, when they’ve had too much to drink can be quite abusive to rough sleepers.

The increased number of opportunities for people to get drunk over the festive season heightens the risk of intoxicated people abusing Cardiff’s homeless population.

Dean, (who chose not to disclose his last name) has been rough sleeping in a tent for just over three months following a stint in prison that left him without a home or a car. It also meant he lost his job as a painter and decorator. w Dean has been a victim of the violence against rough sleepers, stating the other day a woman booted him in the face. It was “On purpose! She was drunk.”

January 2024 | Issue 1

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Alt.Cardiff NO 1

Image credits: Nick Fewings and AR

Donna, a homeless woman, said the biggest challenges she faces over the Christmas period is “Trying to get people to be nice.”

The freezing temperatures also pose an enormous threat to rough sleepers over winter.

On 27 November, Cardiff-based man Richard O’Brien sadly died. He was the third rough sleeper to die in the city in 2023.

His friend and fellow rough sleeper Gary Mason told Wales Online that he tried to warm O’Brien up, but unfortunately it was too late.

“It’s horrible, especially when you haven’t got nothing”

toll on his mental health.

How to help the homeless this winter: Care packages

The homeless charity Simon On The Streets says that for many rough sleepers, pre-existing health conditions are made worse in winter due to the cold weather.

Another rough sleeper named Tony (who also chose not to give his last name) feels the same. He said he struggles to understand how people can carelessly spend their money but “Can’t even be bothered to throw me one pence.”

They also state that some people go to potentially dangerous measures to escape the cold, such as swapping sex for a bed.

A Freedom of Information request found Cardiff Council received £25,000 from the Christmas markets in 2022.

If you want to get involved and help rough sleepers, making and distributing care packages is a great way to. Here’s how and what to include:

What are the council doing?

- Package everyhting in a large ziplock (or other waterproof) bag.

The impact of the Christmas markets

St John Street and the surrounding area is usually where many rough sleepers make their place of residence, so the markets leave many having to find other areas to sleep.

Dean stated the hardest part about being homeless in winter is finding somewhere to stay for the night, and the Christmas markets make this issue worse due to them spanning entire streets.

He also said “It’s horrible, especially when you haven’t got nothing [sic]” spending all day watching people spend their money in the Christmas markets. The former decorator said that with the increased foot traffic “So many people look down” on him, taking a

January 2024 | Issue 1

Cardiff Council is also working alongside homeless charities such as the Wallich and the Huggard Day Centre doing outreach work, providing mental health support, counselling, and advice for those sleeping rough.

Cardiff Council is trying to help as many rough sleepers as possible get into temporary accommodation.

Dean and his friend Sanchez say they were offered beds at the Huggard, but they feel safer sleeping on the streets. “Nobody wants to stay at the Huggard because you’ve got to sleep with two eyes open.”

- Include things to help people keep warm, such as: fluffy socks, a hat, gloves, a scarf, hand warmers or even a blanket.

- Hygine produucts such as a toothbrush, toothpaste and sanitary products.

- Food that will last a little while, such as cereal bars.

- Fresh bottles of water.

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