The Welsh government is likely to introduce tough new laws to keep more than half of Wales’ homeless people out of bed and breakfast hotels – but there is little funding to help councils implement the change.

The proposed legislation, which goes way beyond that introduced in England, would mean that the 2459 people in Wales considered to be in priority need of rehousing under the Homelessness Act could not be placed in bed and breakfast for longer than six weeks. At present there is no official time limit.

There are 4037 homeless people in Wales including those deemed intentionally homeless and not in priority need of help, according to the latest assembly figures which cover April to June 2004.

The groups considered to be a priority for rehousing under the Homelessness Act include people leaving the armed forces, prison or care homes, 16 and 17 year olds, those fleeing violence, pregnant women and families with children. By comparison, the English bed and breakfast legislation only applies to families with children.

At first, the assembly will bring in new rules for families with children and 16- and 17-year-olds, subject to consultation, before extending the protection to other groups.

However Wales’ 22 local authorities would have to share a pot of just £500,000 and could also bid for a maximum of £30,000 each a year for two years.

Shelter Cymru joined with local authorities to say the funding for the change was inadequate.

The charity’s director John Puzey said: “There is £500,000 for local authorities which when you divide it by 22 local authorities is not a lot so we have a lot of sympathy with them.”

However he strongly welcomed the rule changes.

Source

Housing Today

Postscript

Ros Tyrrell, regional housing strategy officer at Conwy council said: “Local authorities are concerned at the lack of funding being made available by the assembly when English
and Scottish authorities get quite significant amounts of funding to help them phase the change through.”