Written question WQ95048
- Asked by
- Andrew RT DaviesConservative
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 9 days
Question
What assessment has the Cabinet Secretary made of the Welsh Government statistics on homelessness from April 2023 to March 2024 showing that homelessness is currently at the highest level since 2015?
Answer
Answered by Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government
The Statutory Homelessness 2023-24 statistics capture snapshot information on the number of households in temporary accommodation as at end of March 2024. Alongside this snapshot annual data, our monthly Homelessness Accommodation Provision and Rough Sleeping data provides more regular information on the number of individuals (rather than households) in temporary accommodation as well as the numbers of people moved into suitable long-term accommodation each month.
The increase in individuals supported with temporary accommodation reflects the ongoing pressures within the system, not least the effect of the cost-of-living crisis on individuals and households.
Prevention remains our focus and priority to reduce the flow of people needing temporary accommodation, and we are investing almost £220m in homelessness prevention and housing support this year alone.
Our Ending Homelessness Action Plan sets out the suite of measures we are taking to address homelessness in Wales, including our ambitious legislative reform.