13. Will the Minister make a statement on tackling homelessness in Wales? OAQ(5)0046(CC)

The Housing (Wales) Act 2014 ensures everyone who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless gets the help they need. Statistics show homelessness was successfully prevented last year for 65 per cent of all households threatened with homelessness. We are supporting local authorities to build further on this very positive start.

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for that response. I’m certainly pleased to learn that those bodies and organisations responsible for addressing homelessness in Wales have given positive feedback on the results of the changes brought about under the Housing (Wales) Act 2014. For my part, I’m certainly encouraged by how these initiatives have assisted me in supporting constituents faced with homelessness in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney. I guess a comparison can be drawn from the published figures in the significant difference in success rates between local authority areas in terms of successful prevention outcomes—successful homelessness relief outcomes and positive discharges. Can I ask the Cabinet Secretary, therefore, what measures are in place to enable local authorities across Wales to draw on best practice, where this is evidenced by the outcome figures?

Well, I’ve asked for all local authorities and interested groups to review the figures that are provided for them so that there’s a more standardised approach to the measurement of this. I am encouraged by the 65 per cent, but I just want to make sure that we are all measuring the same things. The Housing (Wales) Act 2014 ensures everybody who is homeless or is at risk of becoming homeless gets the help they need. I will look further in terms of seeking advice from my officials on how we intend to pursue this policy and increase our impact, as we move forward.