New legislation being introduced in the Senedd this week aims to transform our response to homelessness in Wales.
The Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Bill will fundamentally change our homelessness system, says the Welsh Government, so that it is focused on prevention and providing more tools to support people into longer-term homes.
The Bill focuses on a multi-agency response to homelessness, bringing public services together to respond to the varied causes and consequences of homelessness.
Key elements of the Bill include:
- Transforming the homelessness system in Wales so that it focusses on earlier identification and prevention.
- Targeting action at those most at risk, for example by providing the opportunity to end homelessness amongst young people leaving care.
- Focussing on a multi-agency response to homelessness, bringing Welsh public services together to respond to the varied causes and consequences of homelessness.
The Bill removes tests on priority need and intentionality that are seen as barriers to service provision and introduces a new local connection test and a new duty to to provide help to retain suitable accommodation.
Public services will have a duty to ‘ask and act’ and localised case co-ordination will be required for certain groups at increased risk of homelessness.
A new duty aims to ensure that suitable accommodation is available for young people leaving care. This group also has ‘reasonable preference’ for social housing allocation.
Local authorities will have a new power to request social landlords accommodate someone owed a homelessness duty. Social landlords must comply, unless there is good reason.
Housing secretary Jayne Bryant said: ‘This Bill marks a turning point in how Wales tackles homelessness. I’m proud to introduce legislation that not only changes systems but will also transforms lives.
‘Every person deserves a safe place to call home, and these reforms bring us closer to making that a reality across Wales.
‘I’m particularly pleased about what this means for young care leavers. By bringing housing and social services teams together, we’ll ensure these young people – who are our responsibility – get the support they need.
‘Ending homelessness in Wales isn’t just an aspiration – it’s achievable if we work together to spot warning signs early and step in with the right support before crisis hits. This Bill gives us the tools to make that happen.”
The housing secretary will be making an oral statement to mark the introduction of the Bill on Tuesday.
The Bill is evidence based, it is grounded in the insight and expertise of people who have experienced homelessness and has been developed in close partnership with stakeholders, including an Expert Review Panel.