Wales to take new approach to tackling homelessness

A new Bill has passed in the Welsh Senedd which aims to transform the response to homelessness.

The Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Bill will focus on prevention and providing more tools to support people into longer-term homes.

The Bill aims to transform the homelessness system so that is focusses on earlier identification and prevention and target action at those most at risk.

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

Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, 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."