6. Statement by the Minister for Housing and Local Government: Update on the Housing Support Grant

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:20 pm on 11 February 2020.

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Photo of Rhianon Passmore Rhianon Passmore Labour 5:20, 11 February 2020

Thank you, Deputy Llywydd. Minister, I very much welcome this strategic guidance for local authorities and the £20 million for homelessness. It is important that housing and homelessness services are person centred and able to meet the varying needs of people, including those with pets.

The housing first approach is now well recognised as a groundbreaking and innovative approach in Wales and as supported by Welsh Government. I'm really pleased to see the emphasis in this new strategic guidance about the need for services to be psychologically informed, and the importance of building trusting relationships with people, especially considering the trauma that many have experienced earlier in their lives. And I also welcome the focus on providing therapeutic support for staff who do incredibly difficult jobs every single day in supporting people to overcome trauma and homelessness. I also know that deep austerity has made it extremely difficult for local authorities and support providers to have the resources they need to ensure that services are truly person centred and psychologically informed.

The rising tide of homelessness is being driven by universal credit, the bedroom tax and other welfare cuts and restrictions, and this is a fact that is driving homelessness and demand. So, Minister, would you also give me assurances—and you've already made some today—that should additional money become available before the final Welsh budget, or following the UK Government budget in March, that you will allocate this to this very important housing support grant, so that local authorities and support providers have the resources that they need to deliver the truly person-centred trauma-informed services that this guidance strategically and holistically outlines?