Housing support staff at risk of homelessness due to low pay ‘clearly unacceptable’, Senedd told

This includes being unable to pay rent and bills, using foodbanks and being at risk of homelessness.

The inquiry has an initial focus on housing support, and is scrutinising housing and homelessness services funded by the government’s Housing Support Grant (HSG).

In its Budget for 2025-26, the Welsh government pledged an additional £21m for the HSG.

While the uplift was welcomed, the Senedd heard yesterday that there are still significant funding shortfalls across Wales.

The inquiry’s report pointed to research which found 79% of homelessness providers were not receiving enough funding to pay staff the Real Living Wage, and were therefore subsidising this with income from other sources.

It said there were several areas where the Welsh government appears “out of touch”, pointing out that while it considers the uplift sufficient, this was “contradicted” by providers, some of which were even thinking about the possibility of contracts being handed back.

During the debate, Senedd member Joel James said the report identifies some of the “major challenges” faced by the sector, and called for a “consistent funding model”, to enable organisations to financially reward staff for their hard work and loyalty.

“There is no doubt in my mind that many people work in this sector because they find the work that they do in helping so fulfilling, and it is right that they should have stable jobs that pay them a decent and fair wage.”

The Senedd debate also covered the policy of introducing rapid rehousing and Housing First, and flagged some “unintended issues”, primarily a lack of housing to move people into from temporary accommodation. 

“We urge the Welsh government to be clearer about what rapid rehousing good practice models actually look like, as there appears to be a lack of evidence informing the types of services and accommodation that are being commissioned under this banner,” said Mr Griffiths.

It also called for national-level data on housing support need, which the government does not currently hold.

In response, housing secretary Jayne Bryant said the government had invested almost £240m in homelessness prevention and support this year, including the £21m uplift to the HSG.

“This investment is essential to strengthen a system that not only responds to homelessness, but actively prevents it.”

Ms Bryant added that the homelessness and housing support workforce was the “bedrock” of all the housing work.

“As all members have done, I want to take this opportunity to thank them again for their hard work in supporting people in communities across Wales.

“I recognise the pressure on them and the services that they work in, which has been highlighted in the committee’s report. This is precisely why we’ve uplifted the HSG, both in this financial year and in the last financial year, to support the sector to pay the Real Living Wage.”