Written question WQ89813
- Asked by
- Andrew RT DaviesConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Climate Change
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 12 days
Question
What assessment has the Minister made of whether people are deliberately making themselves homeless to get affordable housing?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Climate Change
The Code of Guidance for Local Authorities on the Allocation of Accommodation and Homelessness sets out relevant information related to ‘intentional’ homelessness.
Local authorities can apply the intentionality test, as set out in the Housing (Wales) Act 2014, where a person either undertakes a deliberate act which has resulted in them losing their accommodation or, entered into an agreement to cease occupying accommodation which it would have been reasonable for them to continue to occupy.
Welsh Government understands that people making themselves intentionally homeless is very rare; that local authorities apply the intentionality test in exceptional cases; and local authorities always seek ways to alleviate presentations of homelessness through a trauma-informed, person-centred approach.