2. Will the First Minister make a statement on Welsh Government efforts to tackle the issue of homelessness in Arfon? OAQ51655

Tackling homelessness across Wales is a priority for this Government, as set out in 'Prosperity for All', and, of course, we support that through budget decisions. At least 357 households have been prevented from becoming homeless in Gwynedd since April 2015 as a result of our legislation, guidance and funding.

The increase in rough-sleeping is seen as a problem for Cardiff and the large urban areas, but I am very concerned to see an increase in Bangor, which is developing into a destination for homeless people from across north-west Wales and beyond. There is some support available—there are two hostels—but we do need a welfare centre in the city where people can access practical, medical and emotional support. I will be meeting with the agencies this week to see how we can get such a proposal up and running. Can you confirm that some of the additional funding for tackling homelessness among young people—this funding that you announced in December—will be spent in Bangor?

Well, there is a question here for the Gwynedd authority. Gwynedd was the only authority in Wales not to seek funding under a programme we issued last summer to tackle homelessness amongst young people and rough-sleepers. Officials have met with the local government officers and have urged them to ensure that they do take advantage of every opportunity to tackle this problem. As regards the funding that has been issued, this will be considered in terms of the best way of ensuring that the optimum results are achieved.

At last September's Digartref Ynys Môn and Bangor University event in the Assembly, we heard homeless young people themselves debating youth homelessness in Wales. And they said young people living in supported accommodation could have a host of issues to deal with and may struggle with this alongside studying and assignments. Last Friday, I visited the Hwb project—Grwp Cynefin's Hwb project—in Denbigh, to visit the supported accommodation project there, supporting young people and preparing them for independent living, and also the Denbigh youth shed, designed and created by young people from the HWB project, working with Scott Jenkinson and the 4:28 Training group, to provide a safe place for young people to explore who they are, develop pro-social relationships with suitable role models, and develop and learn skills. Will you firstly join me in congratulating those young people on forming the first youth shed in Wales, and secondly confirm whether the Welsh Government will support them in their vision to give every town in Wales a youth shed?

Well, the question is about Arfon, but it's an important question, which I will answer. Firstly, of course I join with him in congratulating the initiative that young people have shown. I'd like to know more about it, and I'd be more than happy to receive further information as to what the process was in establishing the youth shed and how perhaps the model can be adopted across Wales.