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Welsh government announces £20m fund to prevent rough sleepers from returning to streets

Councils in Wales will receive up to £20m in new funding to ensure people who have been placed in emergency accommodation during the pandemic do not return to the streets or unsuitable accommodation. 

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Picture: Getty
Picture: Getty
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“This crisis has provided us with a unique opportunity to change the services and change lives for the better and I am truly excited about this." @JulieJamesAM #ukhousing

“The Welsh Government is taking very positive steps right now and as we move out of lockdown I look forward to seeing in due course the Welsh Government’s plan to prevent and end homelessness for good." @jon_sparkes #ukhousing

Welsh housing minister Julie James is asking local authorities to draw up plans to transform services and the accommodation offer across Wales to help the people currently in temporary accommodation to move onto a longer-term home.

The new funding comes in addition to the £10m which has already been provided to councils in Wales to house rough sleepers during the coronavirus crisis.

According to the government, over 800 people have been housed in Wales since lockdown began, a mix of rough sleepers, those living in unsuitable temporary accommodation and those living in precarious housing situations.


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Ms James said: “The collaborative effort of the sector to accommodate homeless people during the pandemic has been incredible.

“Getting over 800 people off the streets or away from unsuitable accommodation has not been easy, but by working together we have made a big difference to the lives of these people.”

“This does not, however, mean we have resolved homelessness in Wales. We have achieved a temporary reprieve, but it remains our goal to end homelessness and we will not see people forced back onto the streets.

“This crisis has provided us with a unique opportunity to change the services and change lives for the better and I am truly excited about this.

“This funding together with the collaborative approach we have taken so far, gives me confidence that we can now make a significant step towards achieving our goal of ending homelessness in Wales.”

Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis and chair of Wales’ Homelessness Action Group, said: “The coronavirus outbreak has affected everyone in our society but people facing homelessness are among the most exposed.

“Swift and decisive action early on by the Welsh government, councils, Welsh public services and charities has successfully protected many people by providing emergency accommodation.

“This has been a very challenging time for many of us, but it shows how much we can achieve by working together. We now need to urgently start the next phase of helping people into safe and secure homes, so that we don’t see people forced back onto the street or into unsafe temporary accommodation.”

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