Mark Isherwood MS – the Shadow Minister for Local Government, Housing and Communities – has reacted with concern to a report released today (July 23) by Audit Wales into the Welsh  Government’s response to rough sleeping, including during the Covid-19 crisis.

Mr Isherwood – the Welsh Conservative spokesperson on Homelessness – said:

“In the words of the report’s authors, up to £209 million is wasted annually by the Welsh public sector reacting to but not solving rough sleeping.

The report also found that services were not always joined up and people were not being helped when they needed it.

“Cited, too, were ‘many examples’ of a ‘revolving door’ for service users who were assisted off the streets and into temporary accommodation, but without the necessary support to address the root causes of their homelessness, and who often ended up back where they started.

“The crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic provides an opportunity for public bodies to start addressing weaknesses in partnership working in order to tackle rough sleeping long-term - and they must not be allowed to waste it.

“It is now crucial that the Welsh Government states how it plans to help street homeless people once the current lockdown is eased, by ensuring that public bodies not only focus on giving them a roof over their head, but also work together to address the root causes of street homelessness.”