TWO community hostels in Monmouthshire are being renovated to address the growing issue of homelessness in the county.

As official figures reveal the number of people without residence has doubled in the past two years, the county council is hoping a more specialised service will help tackle the problem.

Woodstock House, in Abergavenny, and Hill House, in Chepstow, will both become single-person hostels, offering 24-hour assistance and support to those in need.

"It will no longer be a case of just providing caretaker support," said David Morris, operations manager for housing services.

"The hostels will provide trained staff who will be able to not only house people, but provide them with essential support and life skills.

"This is a positive step towards improving our standards of care and provision, but it is also fair to say we still have a lot more work to do to eradicate the problem.

"Reductions in Assembly money such as social housing grants have badly affected our ability to provide homeless provision, and it is still very much an ongoing issue."

Unlike previous provisions, when a wide range of people would have limited use of a hostel, Mr Morris revealed the new buildings will be for the exclusive use of single homeless persons.

"We felt the need to clearly identify and manage who will be using the facilities," said Mr Morris.

"Other groups such as single mothers or families will no longer be lumped together, and those who find themselves homeless will be provided with either private accommodation or some of our council housing stock."

Woodstock House, in Regent Street, Abergavenny, will provide 12 rooms, while Hill House, in Hardwick Avenue, Chepstow, will provide nine.

Woodstock House is due to close on September 18 and will re-open in March next year.

Hill House, currently closed, is planned to open next April.