At the Sanctuary in the Senedd meeting held on Wednesday 7th December, I enquired how  Clearsprings were allowed to get away with offering such a poor standard of housing when as a Private landlord I had to follow the rigorous standard imposed on the Welsh Landlord Licencing scheme. The members of the committee were very encouraging on the issue and stated that they would investigate as a matter of priority.

I have several more points and evidence to submit which may help the committee.

1. Asylum Seekers are already suffering severe stress while going through the arduous Asylum process. Living in poorly maintained housing with mould, damp and inadequate facilities affects their mental and physical health even further. Apart from the inhumanity of the situation, they also become a greater burden on the NHS. Surely it is more cost effective to employ a builder and decorator than to use the already overstretched services of our Doctors and Hospitals.

2. The furniture and other goods supplied by Clearsprings are of very poor quality and often broken. The standard issue of aluminium beds with broken springs and sofas and seating which is broken and only fit for scrapping causes neck and back pain, again posing another call on the NHS.

I have many stories to tell from my experiences of Clearsprings because I deliver bedding and duvets to Asylum Seekers so have witnessed these problems first hand. Asylum Seekers do not complain but are extremely grateful for an small act of kindness. This is why someone has to speak up for them.

From a purely economic perspective this makes no sense. From a humanitarian perspective it is a total disgrace and from a fairness perspective, I would not be allowed to get away with such poor standards so why should they?

Thank you for taking the time to deliberate this issue but I am eager to see if there is positive action to improve.