Adferiad Welcomes New Homelessness Bill

The Welsh Government has published what is being hailed as a groundbreaking Homelessness Bill, which aims to transform services and reform housing law. The new bill, which has been laid before the Senedd, is a key part of the Welsh Government’s commitment to end homelessness.

The Homelessness and Social Housing Allocations (Wales) Bill will:

• Extend the period during which people can get help to prevent homelessness from 56 days to 6 months
• Strengthen the steps taken by local authorities and introduce the right to request a review on the decisions taken
• Introduce Prevention, Support and Accommodation Plans and a new duty to provide help to retain accommodation
• Abolish the priority need and intentionality tests, which currently prevent people getting the help they need
• Improve and clarify support and access to housing for young people leaving care
• Introduce a new legal duty on a range of public services to ‘ask and act’ if someone is experiencing or at risk of homelessness
• Improve access to social housing and introduce a requirement for common housing registers and accessible housing registers
• Require Welsh Ministers and local authorities to consult with people who have experienced, or been at risk of, homelessness

Adferiad has praised the move as a “step in the right direction” but urges the Government to ensure support is provided for step-down housing projects and for people for whom homelessness is only one part of the range of complex issues they are facing.

The mental health and substance use charity offers vital support to individuals whose lives who have been affected by mental ill health and addiction-related problems. As part of our work to support people with co-occurring needs, Adferiad offers multiple housing support schemes across Wales for individuals who are at risk of experiencing homelessness or other housing-related challenges to access and retain secure accommodation.

Commenting on the new Bill, Adferiad’s Director of Operations (North Wales), Naomii Oakley, said:

“Individuals who have found themselves homeless (or at risk of homelessness) often face a range of challenging circumstances, which is why Adferiad believes in offering a personalised, ‘whole-person’ approach, which encourages the development of life skills and independence. We are therefore pleased to see a support-focused approach, with plans to remove barriers to accessing relevant services reflected in this new bill.”

The alterations will strengthen steps taken by local authorities, introducing Prevention, Support and Accommodation Plans (PSAP). The bill grants more opportunities for those at risk of homelessness by widening accommodation options alongside placing greater responsibility on local authorities to “ask and act” in relation to persons in Wales. Young people also leaving care will also be able to take steps to secure suitable accommodation.

The bill has taken an approach to ensure engagement of lived experience and is synonymous with Adferiad’s approach to recovery. It’s legislative journey to become a legal Act will begin in the coming weeks and it is hoped that it will receive Royal Assent before the Senedd election in May 2026. The Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government has also published a written statement and explanatory memorandum to accompany the Bill.