By Andrew Ranger

MP for Wrexham

Last week, I was contacted by a concerned constituent who had concerns over a man who seemed to be homeless, along with his dog. The next day, whilst I was in Parliament, my constituency team went out to try to find the man. They did find him and listened to his concerns on being told by Wrexham Council that he could not be housed due to his dog. I did some research and found that homeless people can be homed with their dogs, and we found some options that would mean he would not be separated from his dog.

Over the next few days, working with the Council’s Housing Solutions Team, my office staff kept in touch with the man, checked on his welfare and provided hot drinks and food. I was then delighted to hear that he has been housed and is now in accommodation.

Whilst my team did a fantastic job, what struck me most was what they told me about the Wrexham residents they spoke to whilst working with the man who was homeless. Dozens of people knew the man and came over to have a chat and a joke with him, give him hot drinks, provide food and treats for his dog, who seems to be a sort of local celebrity!

It truly shows the best of Wrexham, and it isn’t a surprise. This community has always looked after each other and it is why I am proud to live here, be part of the community and represent our incredible city in Parliament. I would especially like to thank the resident who contacted me initially, without your care towards the man, we would not have been able to assist him and his dog.

If you have any concerns over a person you suspect to be homeless, the Council’s Housing Solutions Team are available 24 hours a day and can be contacted on 01978 292947 or you can use the Streetlink website to send an alert to them. There are several fantastic hostels and options in Wrexham such as the Wallich, which does incredible work housing the homeless community and facilitating meetings with external support services.

As the weather gets colder, Wrexham Council have the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol which has measures in place to support people sleeping rough during severe cold weather.

Next week is UK Parliament Week for schools, youth organisations and charities. UK Parliament Week is an annual event to encourage children and young people to learn more about Parliament, what it does, and how they can get involved. Last year 1.6 million people got involved across Wales and the wider UK.

I was pleased to learn how many groups across Wrexham have signed up, with many events such as debates, petitions, school assemblies and much more. I will be joining a group next weekend, alongside other elected representatives to discuss Parliament and how it works and have a debate.

As ever, if you require assistance or if you have any concerns you wish to discuss, please do not hesitate to contact me on Andrew.ranger.mp@parliament.uk