‘Ending homelessness in Wales is a possibility’

THE Covid-19 pandemic is an opportunity for public bodies to start addressing weaknesses in partnership working to help tackle rough sleeping, according to a new report.

The report, produced by Audit Wales, found that in recent years many public bodies who work with rough sleepers weren’t always joining services and helping people in need.

The report, which looks at how public bodies can help to end people sleeping rough in Wales, found many examples of people being assisted off the streets and into temporary accommodation, but they did not get the support they needed to address the root causes of their homelessness and often ended up back where they started.

The true extent of people sleeping rough in Wales each year is unknown. Information produced by charities who work with rough sleepers say there are roughly 3,000 incidences of rough sleeping every year.

The most recent data published by Welsh Government shows the number of people sleeping rough was continuing to rise before the pandemic, increasing by 17% between November 2018 and November 2019.

Audit Wales’ research shows that people sleeping rough in later life have often experienced domestic or sexual abuse, substance misuse, been abused at home, had difficulties in school, or lived in poverty from a young age.

It suggests that to end rough sleeping, solutions will need to address both accommodation and support needs and will require many public bodies including councils, police, health bodies, housing associations, and others to change what they do to tackle rough sleeping.

Adrian Crompton, Auditor General, said: “There has been a real change and emphasis on rough sleeping since the pandemic hit, with public services stepping up to help people off the streets into accommodation. Public services need to capitalise on this work and deliver longerterm solutions to end people sleeping on our streets.

“I believe that for the first time in a generation, eliminating rough sleeping in Wales is a possibility.

“Our report sets out how we can all work towards this goal. Public bodies must not just focus on giving people a roof over their head, it needs all partners to work together to address the root causes of homelessness.”

Plaid Cymru Shadow Minister for Transforming Public Services, Delyth

Jewell MS, said: “I welcome the report from the Auditor General for Wales, which highlights the long standing weaknesses that come from a fragmented system. However, the pandemic has revealed that when there is a will, there is a way to end homelessness.

“The Welsh Government’s lack of ability to effectively tackle rough sleeping prior to the pandemic must now be seriously called into question.”