Thank you for contacting me regarding the criminalisation of homelessness.
Homelessness is a big issue facing many people from all walks of life. There is a firm commitment across the UK Government to end rough sleeping once and for all. The UK Government’s ‘Ending Rough Sleeping for Good’ strategy is built around a ‘prevention first’ approach, this includes bringing forward investment so that nobody leaves a public institution – such as a prison, hospital or care – for the streets.
Police forces and local agencies have asked for more direct tools to respond sensitively, yet firmly, to instances of nuisance begging and rough sleeping that place individuals involved at risk or make the public feel unsafe.
Nevertheless, Housing has been devolved to the Labour Government in Cardiff for the last 25 years, yet there is a huge housing crisis in Wales. The number of rough sleepers in Wales continues to steadily increase, and the number of those in temporary accommodation has hit record highs. In March 2023, the total number of individuals who entered temporary accommodation hit 10,000 for the first time.
One of the primary drivers of homelessness in Wales is a lack of affordable housing. The Welsh Government has failed to build enough social housing in Wales. It is believed that approximately 90,000 households are on a social housing waiting list in Wales. Along with this, Wales still has around 23,000 long-term empty properties.
The Welsh Government’s ‘High Level Action Plan’ commits to ending homelessness by 2026. The plan does not set out interim targets to measure progression, nor a legally binding goal. In comparison to this, the Welsh Conservatives have brought forward our housing plan to build more homes, and bring more empty properties back into use.
I will ensure my colleagues are aware of your concerns, thank you for taking the time to contact me.
