Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:47 pm on 17 November 2020.
Trefnydd, I would like to call for a statement from the Minister for housing regarding homelessness during the pandemic. A few months ago the Minister stated that the Welsh Government had a commitment to end rough-sleeping and made emergency accommodation available—a move that I and many others welcomed at the time. However, as the pandemic continues apace, we are, once again, seeing rising numbers of people forced to sleep in shop doorways, behind bins or on industrial estates. And in recent weeks I have had a number of such people come to my regional office desperate for help. Just this weekend, I witnessed at least three people sleeping rough. As we enter the winter months, and with COVID-19 on the rise, it is more important than ever that we find accommodation for those who find themselves without a roof over their head and with nowhere to practise good hand hygiene. So, Trefnydd, I would be grateful if you could ask that the Minister for Housing and Local Government makes and urgent statement to this Senedd about the actions the Welsh Government will be taking in the coming months to end rough-sleeping once and for all. Diolch, Llywydd.