Senedd votes to pass ‘life-changing’ homelessness legislation

It focuses on a multi-agency response to homelessness, bringing Welsh public services together to respond to the causes and consequences of homelessness. 

Jayne Bryant, cabinet secretary for housing and local government, said the bill is “unique” and is “rooted in the lived experience of homelessness”. 

She said: “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.”

Homelessness charity Crisis welcomed the successful vote in the Senedd. It highlighted that the legislation comes at a “critical time” as councils across Wales recorded nearly 13,000 households as homeless last year.

Matt Downie, chief executive of Crisis, said: “This is truly a landmark day in Wales. The new Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation 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. 

“It also looks to improve the support available to people who are experiencing homelessness, and to address many of the barriers we see in our frontline services day in, day out.”

Mr Downie highlighted that the Welsh government “must now invest in the proper implementation of these new laws”, saying it is “critical that services have the guidance, funding and resources to really deliver the ambition of the bill”.

Elly Lock, head of policy and research at Community Housing Cymru, said the passing of the legislation is a “significant moment in Wales’ journey to ending homelessness” and reflects “years of cross-sector work”.

She added: “We look forward to collaborating with the Welsh government and partners on effective implementation.

“Together we must ensure guidance supports partnership working and information-sharing between different bodies to make the aims of the legislation a reality.”

“Ultimately, legislation alone cannot end homelessness,” Ms Lock said, and Wales needs more social homes and “high-quality support for everyone who needs them”.

“This is why we are calling on the next Welsh government to commit to a bold, deliverable plan to end Wales’ housing emergency and deliver 60,000 additional affordable homes, complemented by multi-year funding for housing support that meets needs early and prevents people experiencing a housing crisis,” she added.

Housing association membership body Community Housing Cymru has previously called for the next government to aim to deliver 60,000 additional affordable homes over the next decade.