Issue 138: Summer 2025

Editorial: Fitting the Bill?

The introduction of the Homelessness and Social Housing Allocations (Wales) Bill is both a landmark moment and the latest stage in the journey to making homelessness rare, brief and unrepeated.

This Summer issue of WHQ takes the Homelessness Bill as its theme and examines the new legislation from multiple directions. Debbie Thomas and Suzanne Fitzpatrick look at the road to change via the Expert Review Panel and white paper and the subsequent crafting of the proposals into the Bill. Meanwhile Claire Shiland examines one of the most radical proposals, the ‘ask and act’ duty on other public services.

Considerable debate lies ahead as the Bill makes its way through the Senedd. Robin White welcomes the proposed abolition of the priority need and intentionality tests but worries about the implications of the continuation of the local connection test and the introduction of discharge of duty through unacceptable behaviour. Alicja Zalensinska shares the ambition but stresses the importance of ensuring that some groups do not fall through the gaps, while Bill Rowlands worries that support may fall short for young people.

Delivery will be crucial if the new system is to work. Drawing on international experience, Lígia Teixeira argues that Wales needs to become as known for its boldness in implementation as it is for its legislation. Katie Clubb says implementation should be phased and local authorities must be adequately resourced. Elly Lock looks at what housing associations need to deliver, while Clare Budden argues that providing homes for the homeless should already be their key purpose.

The Spring issue of WHQ focussed in detail on supply and planning and we have a coda to that in an interview with Lee Waters MS about the Affordable Housing Taskforce that he chaired. Here too, he says, delivery is crucial. He shares his thoughts on the levers that need to be pulled and the trade-offs that need to be made with other policies.

From homes to those living in them, we hear the case for a national independent tenant voice, which Emma Nicholas argues has become overwhelming in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire and recent scandals in England.

Rob Milligan and Vickie Cooper reflect on tenants’ experiences of decarbonisation work, while Satish BK explores the links between cooking practices, ventilation and indoor air quality.

Turning to the experiences of frontline housing staff, Tegan Brierley-Sollis looks at emerging evidence of the impact of being exposed to trauma in their work. Joe Stockley and Gareth Leech discuss the work of the new Housing Futures Cymru panel.

All that, plus articles on private renting and our regular updates on finance, governance, policy, research and the Senedd, make for a new WHQ with something to interest everyone. We hope you find it an interesting read.

Jules Birch, editor, WHQ