HOMELESSNESS is expected to rise by a massive 92 per cent in Monmouthshire next year, an Argus investigation has revealed.

The figure for those presenting themselves as homeless is expected to rise from 324 households in 2003 to 700 next year.

In 2003 and the first quarter of 2004, the Monmouthshire homelessness figure rose to 411 cases.

The news comes as charities and housing officers across Gwent blame the house price rises of recent years and the lack of social housing because of the right-to-buy legislation for forcing lower income families and younger people off the housing ladder.

Family breakdown was another significant factor in 4,000 cases of homelessness in Gwent last year.

Many people who are homeless sleep on friends' floors or are in temporary bed and breakfast accommodation - Torfaen council alone is spending up to £450,000 a year on bed and breakfast places.

A massive shortage of affordable housing fuelled by rapidly rising house prices over the last three years has contributed significantly to the problem.

Across Wales, there's been a 31 per cent increase in the number of statutory homeless households in local authorities in the last year alone.

These are people or families who the council has a legal obligation to rehouse.

In Monmouthshire, the figure is forecast to rise a staggering 92 per cent, from 324 households in 2003 to an estimated 700 next year.

The issue has prompted the council to press on with the development of two new 21-bedsit units in Chepstow and Abergavenny, aimed at the vulnerable 16-25 age group.

In Torfaen, Newport, Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly, the figure is nearer the national average - but it's getting higher.

Torfaen council is spending up to £450,000 a year on bed-and-breakfast accommodation, and during 2003/2004 received more than 1,000 cases of homelessness.

Gwent-wide, there were nearly 4,000.

The astronomical rise in house prices may have peaked for the time being, but the damage has already been done in terms of a lack of affordable housing for those who didn't get on the property ladder, say housing chiefs.

Average house prices across Gwent are above £100,000, but average wages are still between £15,000 and £20,000.

"We do have a paradox in that under RTB (right to buy), 400 properties have been sold in Torfaen over the last year, while only 12 new homes were added to the council's housing stock, and 11 of those were replacing older properties - so that's a net increase of one," said Adrian Huckin, head of strategic housing in Torfaen.

"There is definitely an issue around availability, and we are trying to lobby the National Assembly to put more investment in."

Liz Derrick, communications officer for campaigning group Shelter, said the increase in homelessness across Wales is a cause for great concern.

She said: "It's clear that local councils need to increase resources to provide services and support for homeless people, and find alternatives to bed-and-breakfast accommodation.

"We need a significant and urgent increase in public investment in housing."

Another worrying development is the growing number of young homeless people aged 16-25.

Adrian Huckin is head of housing strategy for Torfaen council.

He says society is storing up a raft of problems for the future if the issue isn't tackled now.

Around 362 of the council's 1,000 homeless presentations were young people between 16-25, and it's a similar picture across the rest of Gwent.

"The effect on youngsters can be lifelong problems with education, as well as health and well-being," said Mr Huckin.

"More than 30 young people from Torfaen are waking up in bed-and- breakfast accommodation this morning - some of them as far away as Bristol and Cardiff.

"We are conducting research at the moment into the knock-on effects of that, but obviously it's not going to be good."

For many young people their homeless status began simply because they weren't getting on with the family and had to leave. Sometimes, the council's priority is simply to get those young people back with their families.

There are now plans to open a 20-bed hostel in Pontypool, which will offer support and training for homeless young people. It's part of an initiative which would be run by Solas (formerly NASH - Newport Action For the Single Homeless).

As well as the 1,045 statutory homeless cases received by Newport council in 2003, the city has to cope with hundreds of other homeless people seeking shelter each year in the city.

Richard Frame is the director of Solas, which has become a Gwent-wide homeless support organisation.

It runs a 20-bed 'direct access' hostel in Albert Street - a facility which accepts people directly off the street - as well as a 20-bed 'multiple needs' hostel in Clarence Place, which caters for specialist referrals. It also runs a number of supported housing units.

In addition, an arts-based day centre was opened in 2002 in George Street, which lays on a variety of creative and practical activities, and caters for up to 50 students a week.

The organisation has helped hundreds of people since 1983, when the first hostel was established in Clarence Place. It is currently providing accommodation for 78 people.

But Mr Frame told the Argus that Solas had to turn away a total of 608 people last year.

He said: "We have support workers, project workers and a resettlement team, who work alongside homeless people with the aim of getting them into permanent accommodation.

"The aim of the day centre is to give people constructive training and support so they can get a job or take on training and support themselves."

Solas will also run the new hostels in Monmouthshire.