More homes, early intervention and support systems are key to ending homelessness in Wales, the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government has told the Senedd.
In a speech given in the Senedd, the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant, addressed the current housing situation in Wales and plans to end homelessness.
Addressing the Siambr, she said: “We know that investing in social housing reduces poverty, improves health and helps drive economic growth.
“Good quality affordable housing can provide opportunities for every individual and family, positively impacting upon health, mental health and education outcomes.
“Our ambition to end homelessness in Wales cannot be achieved unless we have sufficient supply of suitable homes that people can afford to live well in alongside early intervention, prevention and support systems."
High numbers of people living in temporary accommodation and Local Authority Local Housing Market Assessments is evidence that more housing must be delivered.
At the beginning of the Senedd term, the Welsh Government set an ambitious target to deliver an additional 20,000 homes for rent in the social sector.
The Prif Weinidog has set the delivery of more homes as one of her key priorities, giving families the opportunity to live fulfilled lives.
Despite some of the most challenging global events driving up inflation and costs, record levels of funding have been provided to support this commitment, with over £1.4bn invested so far.
Supporting home builders with cost increases, introducing additional funding and flexibility through the Transitional Accommodation Capital Programme and rolling out Leasing Scheme Wales are just some of ways the Welsh Government has been providing support.
The Cabinet Secretary continued: “Our investment is paying off, the sector is responding positively and social home delivery rates are increasing to some of the highest rates ever recorded.
“Whilst I commend the work of the sector to ramp up their building programmes it is right that we are being challenged to do more, deliver faster.”
The Cabinet Secretary announced that she is finalising arrangements for an Affordable Homes Taskforce.
The Task Force will explore how the Welsh Government can help with the delivery of affordable homes through planning processes, land supply and encouraging close working with manufacturers of modular housing.
Local authorities have also been asked to prioritise efforts and resources on schemes to deliver as many homes as possible.
Delivering on this agenda will require working closely with other Cabinet members across portfolios to break down the barriers facing housing.
The Cabinet Secretary concluded: “I think members here in the Senedd would all agree that focusing on delivering more affordable homes, with a firm focus on social rent, and ending homelessness are the right priorities.”
©Pic: Pixabay
In a speech given in the Senedd, the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant, addressed the current housing situation in Wales and plans to end homelessness.
Addressing the Siambr, she said: “We know that investing in social housing reduces poverty, improves health and helps drive economic growth.
“Good quality affordable housing can provide opportunities for every individual and family, positively impacting upon health, mental health and education outcomes.
“Our ambition to end homelessness in Wales cannot be achieved unless we have sufficient supply of suitable homes that people can afford to live well in alongside early intervention, prevention and support systems."
High numbers of people living in temporary accommodation and Local Authority Local Housing Market Assessments is evidence that more housing must be delivered.
At the beginning of the Senedd term, the Welsh Government set an ambitious target to deliver an additional 20,000 homes for rent in the social sector.
The Prif Weinidog has set the delivery of more homes as one of her key priorities, giving families the opportunity to live fulfilled lives.
Despite some of the most challenging global events driving up inflation and costs, record levels of funding have been provided to support this commitment, with over £1.4bn invested so far.
Supporting home builders with cost increases, introducing additional funding and flexibility through the Transitional Accommodation Capital Programme and rolling out Leasing Scheme Wales are just some of ways the Welsh Government has been providing support.
The Cabinet Secretary continued: “Our investment is paying off, the sector is responding positively and social home delivery rates are increasing to some of the highest rates ever recorded.
“Whilst I commend the work of the sector to ramp up their building programmes it is right that we are being challenged to do more, deliver faster.”
The Cabinet Secretary announced that she is finalising arrangements for an Affordable Homes Taskforce.
The Task Force will explore how the Welsh Government can help with the delivery of affordable homes through planning processes, land supply and encouraging close working with manufacturers of modular housing.
Local authorities have also been asked to prioritise efforts and resources on schemes to deliver as many homes as possible.
Delivering on this agenda will require working closely with other Cabinet members across portfolios to break down the barriers facing housing.
The Cabinet Secretary concluded: “I think members here in the Senedd would all agree that focusing on delivering more affordable homes, with a firm focus on social rent, and ending homelessness are the right priorities.”
©Pic: Pixabay
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NewsTranscript
00:00We know that investing in social housing reduces poverty, improves health and help drives economic
00:19growth.
00:20Good, quality, affordable housing can provide opportunities for every individual and family,
00:27positively impacting upon health, mental health and education outcomes.
00:33Our ambition to end homelessness in Wales cannot be achieved unless we have sufficient
00:38supply of suitable homes that people can afford to live well in, alongside early intervention,
00:45prevention and support service systems.
00:48The evidence that we need more affordable homes is clear.
00:52In the shocking numbers of people living in temporary accommodation and in local authorities'
00:57local housing market assessments, one person sleeping rough or one family without a place
01:05to call home is one too many.
01:09That is why the Prif Weinidog has set the delivery of our more homes target as one of
01:14her key priorities, giving families the opportunity to live fulfilled lives.
01:20At the start of this Senate term, we set a challenging and stretching target to deliver
01:2520,000 additional homes for rent in the social sector.
01:29In support of this commitment, we have allocated record levels of funding to housing supply
01:35in this Senate term, with over £1.4 billion invested so far.
01:41Our investment is paying off, the sector is responding positively and social home delivery
01:48rates are increasing to some of the highest ever recorded.
01:52The first two years of official data show we delivered 5,775 homes towards the target.
02:002023-24 data is expected in November.
02:05This, in spite of challenging global events, driving up inflation and costs, negatively
02:12impacting on our supply chains and workforce.
02:16We have responded to these challenges, supporting our home builders over cost increases, introducing
02:22additional funding and flexibility through the transitional accommodation capital programme
02:29and rolling out Leasing Scheme Wales.
02:33Whilst I commend the work of the sector to ramp up their building programme, it is right
02:38that we are being challenged to do more, deliver faster.
02:43Delivery partners tell us that there is strong pipeline of homes in their programmes for
02:46this term of government and I remain committed to using every means possible to deliver much
02:53needed homes for the people of Wales, both in the short term and long term.
02:59We know that some risks remain which impact development timescales and we are working
03:04with the sector to address the delivery risks for schemes facing delays or blockages where
03:09possible.
03:11Over the summer, I wrote to local authorities and RSLs setting out my clear ambition to
03:17do everything within our collective power to deliver every additional home we can and
03:24asking them to set out what more they can do to help achieve much needed homes.
03:31My letter asks RSLs and local authorities to prioritise efforts and resources on schemes
03:38which deliver the most significant levels of social housing, explore how best all funding
03:43streams are utilised to deliver more homes and to maximise opportunities through acquisitions.
03:52My officials are now analysing the responses to inform our work with landlords, political
03:57leaders and across government to help unlock schemes, support and monitor delivery.
04:04To support this, I am finalising arrangements for our Affordable Homes Taskforce.
04:10The taskforce will explore how Welsh Government can help with the delivery of affordable homes
04:16through planning processes, land supply and encouraging close working with manufacturers
04:22of modular housing.
04:25Full details of the taskforce remit and its membership will be published shortly.
04:31New build support by our social housing grant remains a central plank of our delivery programme
04:38but by no means the only way we are increasing affordable homes in Wales.
04:44We have opened the TACP for the 2024-25 financial year with indicative value of £100 million.
04:53The response has been overwhelming and the scheme has a strong pipeline of creative schemes
04:59to deliver more homes at pace for people who are currently living in temporary accommodation.
05:06While TACP takes a pragmatic and flexible approach, I want to assure colleagues that
05:13it remains a keen focus on standards, rightly striking the balance between meeting needs
05:20and investing public money wisely in homes that support their wellbeing.
05:26Housing Scheme Wales continues to grow with 19 local authorities participating and 243
05:33homes already signed up.
05:36The scheme supports local authorities to lease private sector properties, bringing them into
05:41social landlord management for up to 20 years, providing a range of quality homes and landlord
05:47support for individuals and households who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk
05:53of homelessness.
05:56We are delivering homes on our own land, leading by example on standards, placemaking and affordability,
06:04for example at Cosmaston where 50% of the homes built will be affordable.
06:10We're also taking opportunities to work with partners on alternative delivery models for
06:16affordable homes, for example working with Tyrion Homes and RSL Partners at Ely Mill,
06:22Whiteheads and Parc Aenon.
06:25We're also mindful of the need to plan for long-term delivery, extending our role in
06:30securing and bringing forward land for more affordable housing in Wales, as well as supporting
06:36the use of small pockets of land within existing communities for additional homes.
06:43We know that long-term financial stability is important for our delivery partners in
06:48planning and expanding their development programmes.
06:51I have tasked my officials with exploring a long-term investment commitment for social
06:56housing in Wales, as well as fundamentally reviewing the way we set rent in Wales to
07:01give long-term stability for landlords balanced with affordability for tenants.
07:08Delivering on this important agenda will require close working with Cabinet colleagues across
07:14all portfolios to remove barriers to delivery.
07:18This will include action to bring forward planning fees, ensuring local planning authorities
07:24are resourced efficiently, working with the construction sector to improve and streamline
07:28procurement processes, and ensuring that we have the pipeline of skilled workforce that
07:35the construction sector will need to build the homes of the future.
07:41Of course, Julie James will have a crucial role in her new role as Minister for Delivery,
07:47and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank her for the amount she achieved in her
07:51time as Minister responsible for housing.
07:55I think Members here in the Senedd would all agree that focusing on delivering more affordable
08:00homes, with a firm focus on social rent and ending homelessness, are the right priorities.
08:08I welcome the Prif Weinidog's decision to make this one of her key priorities, to ensure
08:13opportunities for every family.
08:15Mark Isherwood.