Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Members will be aware of the tremendous work undertaken since the start of the pandemic, which continues today, to ensure no-one is left out in our approach to homelessness. Through statutory guidance, we, along with local authorities, ensured that those experiencing homelessness were provided support and accommodation, ensuring a holistic response to the public health emergency. This shone a light on the scale of previously hidden homelessness across Wales. We now have a better understanding of the numbers of people experiencing homelessness.

Whilst the pandemic may have subsided for now, the need for support and housing for individuals who are experiencing homelessness definitely has not. Ahead of our planned wide-ranging reform of homelessness legislation, I'm hoping all Members will welcome and support this interim legislative amendment, and recognise it as an essential step in the eradication of homelessness in Wales. The Homelessness (Priority Need and Intentionality) (Wales) Regulations 2022 will amend the Housing (Wales) Act 2014, meaning a person who is street homeless and a person with whom they may reasonably be expected to reside is recognised as a person having priority need for support and accommodation. To put it in plain language, a person who is rough-sleeping is a person in priority need of accommodation. This regulation will also act to amend the Homelessness (Intentionality) (Specified Categories) (Wales) Regulations 2015, which provides for specified categories of persons a local authority can choose to have regard to by making a decision on whether they are intentionally homeless. This will mirror the current priority need categories and include those people who are street homeless.

Stepping out of the pandemic, we have to acknowledge the impacts of the current cost-of-living crisis and the risk of more people becoming homeless and losing their accommodation. This legislation is needed right now, more than ever, to ensure that we maintain the approach taken throughout the pandemic. I hope all Members will welcome this needed amendment to the legislation and support the motion presented here today. Diolch.