Crisis responds to “milestone” Homelessness and Social Housing Allocations Bill

Crisis is today welcoming the Welsh Government’s draft Homelessness Bill, which holds potential to break ground in homelessness prevention and transform support for people facing homelessness.

The draft bill includes life-changing measures, such as:

• Supporting people at risk of homelessness earlier – when they are at risk of homelessness within 6 months
• Placing duties on wider public sector services to help prevent and end homelessness
• Setting out an end to some of the current laws which lock people out of critical support
• New powers to help local authorities secure social homes for those who need it most, including people experiencing homelessness.

Responding, Matt Downie, Chief Executive of Crisis and Chair of the Ending Homelessness National Advisory Board, said:

“Today’s Homelessness and Social Housing Allocations Bill recognises that bold action is needed to end homelessness.

“Everyone needs a place to call home. Yet, right now, over 12,000 people in Wales are experiencing the worst forms of homelessness and all the trauma that comes with it.

“But in these difficult times, this draft law brings much hope for the future.

“This draft new law holds the potential to transform lives by helping to prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place and, over time, unlocking key parts of the current law which can leave people shut out of support.

“Crisis will be looking closely at the details of this bill as it progresses through the Senedd, but the ambition set out today is a real milestone for Wales in building a future without homelessness.”