Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Firstly, I'd like to thank the committee for all of the very hard work and for giving me the opportunity to respond to this important debate in the Chamber today. I'd also like to place on record my thanks, and those of the Minister for Health and Social Services, to all of those who contributed to the work of the committee, but very particularly those with lived experience who took the time to engage with the committee and those who support rough-sleepers on a daily basis for sharing their views and their experiences with the committee. It's been so very valuable, I think, in coming to the very important recommendations the committee has made.

As we've discussed on numerous occasions, both in this Chamber and in committee sessions, rough-sleeping continues to be an endemic issue across Wales. Members are, of course, aware that the national rough-sleeper count for 2019 was published last week and that many local authorities reported an increase across a two-week period as well as an increase on the night of the count. As I set out in my written statement last week, this is extremely disappointing but is not, unfortunately, surprising.

Whilst the data reported can only provide a very broad indication, we can see for ourselves on far too many streets in both rural and urban areas across Wales that rough-sleeping remains a persistent and growing issue. I set out to this Chamber in October last year my acknowledgement of the need to look afresh at how to achieve the goal of ending homelessness in all its forms, including ending any need at all for anyone to sleep on the streets. This is precisely why we published a new strategy for preventing and ending homelessness last year and established the expert homelessness action group to work at pace to advise on how best to achieve this goal. It is precisely why we have protected homelessness budgets, including the vital £126 million that goes into the housing support grant. Deputy Presiding Officer, only yesterday in the Chamber, I introduced the new guidance on the housing support grant, which addresses many of the commissioning priorities that Members have set out today about the way that services are commissioned, and I really very much hope will address some of the concerns that people have expressed in the Chamber today. 

I will just say one thing, though, on long-term commissioning: I completely agree with that—I think David and Mark Isherwood mentioned it—but they could do us a big favour in assisting us with the UK Government giving us more than a one-year budget, because obviously it's very hard for us to do commissioning over longer than one year when our own budget is on an annual basis. So, I do think some cross-party work in persuading the UK Government to help us with that would be very much appreciated, as we absolutely accept that longer term commissioning would be beneficial in this and many other sectors. 

The work of the committee in examining rough-sleeping and the complex relationship between substance misuse, mental health and housing need provides a useful evidence base to take this work forward. Rough-sleeping, as we all know, is the most acute form of homelessness, and, as well as supporting those at this crisis end off the streets and into suitable accommodation, we also recognise the importance of investing in early intervention and prevention to tackle the root causes of homelessness. This includes continuing to invest and improve health services. For example, we know that improving the mental health and well-being of young people has a direct impact on the numbers of young people falling into homelessness. It is worth noting that Welsh Government continues to spend more on mental health services than any other part of the NHS. Our recent announcement in the draft budget to commit a further £20 million to mental health services, raising the mental health ring fence to £712 million, demonstrates our continued commitment to improving these services. 

In response to those talking about the substance misuse tier 4 issues and other issues—just to point out that we are currently tendering for a contract on an all-Wales substance misuse residential rehabilitation framework, which will provide a new list of approved residential rehabilitation and detoxification service providers. In addition, we wrote to all directors of social services to remind them of their responsibilities for social care assessments and funding for that residential rehabilitation ahead of the introduction of the new framework, and to ensure that sufficient funding is provided not only from commissioned substance misuse services but from wider sources across the public service. 

The links between substance misuse, mental health and issues with accommodation are widely recognised, with both acknowledged as possible cause and consequence of the other. Our response has to be centred on the needs of the individual, and I fully agree with the committee on the need for an integrated service and multi-agency approach to most effectively supporting people. We have been working across Government for some time to jointly take forward this work. Both the published substance misuse delivery plan 2019-22 and the mental health delivery plan 2019-22 have specific actions to address many of the recommendations made by the committee regarding rough-sleeping and access to mental health and substance misuse services. Close working is under way across departments to ensure the actions within these plans support the strategy for preventing and ending homelessness. 

Co-occurring substance misuse and mental health is a priority in both of the delivery plans, and we have, I think, as Mark Isherwood mentioned, established the deep-dive group to examine the barriers to responding more effectively to co-occurring mental health and substance misuse issues, as I am acutely aware that many challenges remain. The group is made up of a range of experts, including policy experts, commissioners and practitioners, including both health and housing, to support that work. I'm very happy to report back to the committee once we've got that piece of work from that group. 

And, in addition, work is being taken forward as part of the partnership agreement for prison health, which includes a specific focus on substance misuse and mental health, and improving transfer of care on release. The partnership agreement is being supported by Welsh Government investing an additional £1 million into primary health services in the prisons. As referenced in both the mental health and substance misuse delivery plans, Welsh Government has also invested £1.3 million in new services for people with housing and complex needs, with a focus on supporting Housing First. This funding is specifically aimed at developing integrated services, working with the hardest to reach and improving access to support for both mental health and substance misuse support and treatment. 

The committee rightly highlighted the potential Housing First has, not just in relation to helping people into accommodation, but also in providing the stability that can make it far easier for someone to tackle their other issues, like substance misuse or mental ill health. I have previously set out that Housing First needs to be part of a wider rapid rehousing approach, as it is intended for those with the most complex needs—precisely the individuals this committee report most focuses on. It has worked around the world and it is working here in Wales. The first two people who entered the Salvation Army project in Cardiff are still in accommodation two years after joining the project in late 2017. Both individuals had a history of rough-sleeping over a number of years prior to their entry into that project. 

All our evidence shows that Housing First takes time. Support workers need time to develop a relationship with people who have often felt let down by the system and have disengaged from society, to earn enough trust with them to agree to even join the project. They need time to ensure that the correct decisions are made, such as the type of tenure, type and location of property, to work with housing associations and private landlords to find that property. And, crucially, time needs to be invested by the support worker after someone has entered accommodation to help them face life's challenges and ensure they receive the support they need to thrive in any accommodation.

The projects we are invested in are succeeding and we recognise health services are an absolutely integral element in ensuring they succeed. As at the end of December, 40 people were sustaining accommodation in one of the seven Housing First projects that we fund directly. Another 21 were in temporary accommodation awaiting a match to a suitable property, and that is 61 people, all of whom had a history of rough-sleeping and either mental health or substance misuse—or, more often, co-occurring issues—that would likely otherwise be sleeping rough tonight. 

As a Government, Deputy Presiding Officer, we will continue to take forward the complete public service response required to achieve the goal of ending homelessness and to recognise the key roles of health and housing in leading this important work. Diolch.