🚨 Exciting changes ahead! The Welsh Government’s move to revamp homelessness laws has just passed the first hurdle in the Senedd. They’re planning to ditch the “priority need” and “intentionality” tests, aiming to focus more on prevention and early intervention. 🏠
Housing Minister Jayne Bryant emphasised a new approach: “Our focus is how to help people – not whether to help people.” This could mean a significant boost, with every £1 invested potentially generating £2, or even £4 when considering wider societal benefits.
Yet, as always, there are concerns. John Griffiths, leading the housing committee, reminds us that legislation isn’t a magic fix. More social housing and resources are crucial. There’s worry about how increased demands will strain the current system, especially with the potential shift in social housing selection criteria.
Finance minds are also questioning the cost predictions, suggesting further analysis might be needed. Meanwhile, Conservative Joel James supports the bill but warns it won’t solve everything. He highlights the need for strong, consistent support and suggests veterans might need special consideration regarding housing allocations.
With an eye on the bigger picture, Plaid Cymru’s Siân Gwenllian stresses that while the bill has positives, it could go further to address the crisis, especially with homelessness potentially rising by 24% by 2041. Care leavers, often left vulnerable, need more support to prevent them from slipping into this system.
There’s still a way to go, with detailed reviews and amendments on the horizon before the final vote. Let’s hope for impactful changes that genuinely make a difference! 🤞💬 #Wales #HomelessnessReform #HopeForChange