The Bill is a bold step towards ending homelessness, says Katie Clubb, but reforms need to be phased with care
Wales is on the brink of a transformative shift in how it tackles homelessness. By removing tests like ‘intentionality’ and ‘priority need’ and placing prevention, early intervention and co-production at the heart of policy, the Bill proposes a more trauma-informed, person-centred and equitable system.
We’re proud that members of our team contributed to the Expert Review Panel and helped shape legislation rooted in the experiences of people who have faced homelessness. Local authorities will play a vital role in ensuring the ambitions of the legislation are fully realised and it won’t come without its challenges.
In Conwy, we welcome this bold direction of travel and share our reflections as a local authority already working in the spirit of the Bill.
Embedding prevention and early intervention
We fully support and recognise that a focus on earlier intervention and prevention is a key shift to reduce the number of households experiencing the trauma of homelessness and repeat homelessness. Prevention is an approach embedded at the heart of services wider than housing across Conwy and we are proud of the positive outcomes it delivers.
However, shifting to earlier identification won’t be without challenges. Currently, only a small proportion of people approach the council more than 56 days before losing their home. In our consultation with over 140 people with lived experience, nearly half said staying in their home had never been an option – highlighting the vital importance of the supply of affordable homes on preventing homelessness.
Embedding early intervention will take time, and achieving meaningful outcomes will require sustained staffing and funding. To date, despite an increase, prevention grant levels have not supported truly creative or flexible responses.
If supported by investment, collaboration, and the supply of affordable homes needed to make prevention a reality – we believe this part of the Bill has real potential.
Strengthening access to social housing
As a non-stock holding authority, Conwy has long relied on partnerships to meet housing need. It’s been important to us to work with our housing association partners ‘in the spirit of the Bill’ for quite some time. Many of the elements laid out in this Bill will strengthen existing voluntary arrangements here in Conwy.
Conwy is part of the Single Access Route to Housing (SARTH) Partnership – a sub-regional approach to social allocations. With our allocations policy currently under review, the timing is right to align with the Bill’s requirements. But ambition must be matched with infrastructure – investment is needed in systems, governance and capacity to make this work.
We’re pleased that the Bill reflects local authority feedback, including the introduction of a ‘deliberate manipulation’ test, which replaces the disincentive function of intentionality in a more person-centred way.
A realistic approach to collaboration
We welcome the focus on homeless strategies being co-produced with people with lived experience – an approach already embedded in Conwy’s way of working.
The Bill also introduces new duties for public bodies to identify and act on early signs of homelessness. For Conwy, this aligns with established regional collaboration, especially in work with young people and those with complex needs.
But implementation must be realistic – many partner agencies are already stretched, and new duties must be adequately resourced to succeed.
Phasing reforms with care
We support the removal of entitlement based on priority need and intentional homelessness, which we believe will reduce barriers and enable more person-centred, trauma-informed responses.
We also welcome the decision to phase these changes in line with the supply of affordable homes. Without that, there’s a real risk of overwhelming services or creating unintended consequences. A phased approach gives us time to embed new ways of working and build the housing infrastructure needed to make reform meaningful.
Homes as the foundation for change
Legislation alone won’t end homelessness. The Welsh Government rightly acknowledges the need for parallel investment in supply of affordable homes, policy and practice. Without more homes, prevention and move-on options remain limited.
Conwy has faced significant challenges in housing delivery, especially following Covid-related disruptions. However, we are optimistic: over 1,000 affordable homes are projected in the next three years, supported by our work on bringing empty homes back into use and our early adoption of the Leasing Scheme Wales.
Despite this progress, we know supply will fall short of projected need. Continued long-term investment is essential to achieving the Bill’s ambitions.
Looking ahead
In Conwy, we’re ready to play our part. Much of our service transformation over the past two years aligns closely with the Bill’s principles, and we would welcome the opportunity to act as an early adopter of specific reforms.
To ensure successful implementation, we urge that early commencement areas be appropriately resourced and given the time needed to embed. With the right support, this Bill can mark a genuine step change – not just in legislation, but in people’s lives.
Katie Clubb is head of strategic housing at Conwy County Borough Council