Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'm very pleased to lead this short debate, focusing on a barrier that many people face when they try to get off the street and receive the support they so desperately need. For me, personally, especially if I've had a difficult day, whether that's in work, personal circumstances or whether it's my football team losing, there are few better things than being welcomed home by my dog, Joseph. Now, who is going to look after Joey if my family and I go away for the weekend is often an issue we face. Unfortunately, that's the reality every single evening for someone sleeping rough or someone who is homeless. 

One person sleeping rough on our streets is one person too many. Rough-sleeping is sadly evident in all major towns and cities, but, unlike in the past, it is now also increasing in all of our local communities and villages. This is not acceptable and, in my view, it is not inevitable. Decent housing should be a basic human right in a rich country like ours. As the Minister for Housing and Local Government said in her statement last week, the Government's own statistics show that demand on services in increasing, with over 10,000 households presenting to local authorities in 2018-19 as at risk of being homeless within 56 days and 11,000 presenting as already homeless. 

A country is judged on how it treats its most vulnerable, and I'm afraid to say that, in too many areas, we are failing people who are homeless. It's why last year I decided to spend an evening on the streets of Chester, along with the team from Share Shop, and as well I joined, on the streets of Cardiff, my colleague Bethan Sayed to sell The Big Issue.