The Senedd has given Stage 4 approval to landmark homelessness legislation that campaigners say has the potential to transform how Wales prevents and tackles homelessness.
The Homelessness and Social Housing Allocations (Wales) Bill includes the abolition of ‘priority need’ and ‘intentionality’ tests that can block people from getting the support they need when facing homelessness. It also provides a stronger focus on preventing homelessness, a commitment to ensuring support and allocations are tailored to people’s individual needs and routes for better joint-working across sectors.
Following the successful vote in the Senedd, housing secretary Jayne Bryant, said: ‘This Bill is unique. It is rooted in the lived experience of homelessness and every part of the Bill is a response to real experiences of the system.
‘Today is a real turning point for Wales. The Bill will transform our homelessness system, moving away from one that responds to crisis and towards one that is firmly focused on prevention, because everyone deserves a safe place to call home.
‘This bold and ambitious Bill – gives us the tools to create a fairer system, prevent homelessness, support people into permanent homes, and move closer to our long-term ambition of ending homelessness in Wales.’
Shelter Cymru expressed its appreciation for the work of the Welsh Government and Members of the Senedd from all parties in creating and refining the Bill.
Ruth Power, Shelter Cymru chief executive, said: ‘Today, Wales has taken an important step towards achieving our shared ambition to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring.
‘As the national provider of independent homelessness and housing advice in Wales, we see every day the shortfalls of the current system and how this impacts people’s lives. The Homelessness and Social Housing Allocations Bill has the potential to initiate transformative change in how we tackle homelessness in Wales.
‘With thousands of people in Wales already homeless and trapped in temporary accommodation, it is vital that we seize the opportunity this Bill presents.’
Matt Downie, chief executive of Crisis, said: ‘This is truly a landmark day in Wales. The new Homelessness and Social Housing Allocations Bill has the potential to be life-changing for the thousands of people across Wales that are facing the trauma that comes from living without a stable place to call home.
‘The new law includes world-leading measures which aim to drive down high levels of homelessness and help to prevent people from being pushed into homelessness in the first place.
‘We’re grateful to everyone who has helped to shape these crucial changes to the law, including people Crisis supports who bravely shared their first-hand experience of homelessness in Wales to help create a better future.
‘But the work does not end here. The Welsh Government and incoming Members of the Senedd after the elections in May 2026 must now invest in the proper implementation of these new laws. It is critical that services have the guidance, funding and resources to really deliver the ambition of the Bill and work towards ending homelessness.”
The Bill has been informed by the work of the Expert Review Panel, which included representatives from charities, local authorities, social landlords, academia and brought forward the perspectives of over 300 people with lived experience of homeless in Wales.
Alongside reforms to homelessness legislation, the Bill introduces changes around social homes in Wales. It will mean that that local government and people waiting for social homes will know the local demand for social homes and will be able to see how much progress is being made in providing the social homes people need.
Ruth Power added: ‘The Homelessness and Social Housing Allocations Bill offers one part of the solution to our housing emergency in Wales. For the Bill to meet its aims, and provide transformative change for Wales, we must deliver the safe, secure and genuinely affordable social homes that people need – at scale and at pace.
‘Shelter Cymru look forward to continuing to work with the Welsh Government and partners through thecoming months and years to deliver on the opportunity for transformative change that this Bill represents.’