Homelessness bill passes its first hurdle

Sweeping plans to abolish the “exclusionary” priority need and intentionality tests for homelessness support in Wales have cleared the first hurdle.

- CHRIS HAINES

Senedd members agreed the principles of the homelessness bill without objection, doing away with the need for a vote following a “stage-one” debate.

Housing secretary Jayne Bryant explained the bill would better protect the workforce as well as abolish the priority need and intentionality tests for homelessness support.

She told the Senedd: “Our focus is how to help people - not whether to help people,” outlining an approach focused on prevention and early intervention.

She said phased implementation is expected to cost £247m over 10 years, outweighed by estimated benefits of £481m.

Her Labour colleague John Griffiths, who chairs the Senedd’s housing committee, said: “Nobody should have to experience the trauma of homelessness and, as such, we welcome action that aims to take us further towards the goal of ending homelessness in Wales.”