“This bold and ambitious bill gives us the tools to create a fairer system, prevent homelessness, support people into permanent homes, and move closer to our long-term ambition of ending homelessness in Wales.”
As with other parts of the UK, Wales is facing a homelessness crisis. Last year, councils across the country recorded nearly 13,300 households as homeless and there are around 11,000 people living in temporary accommodation across the country.
Under the new law, local authorities will have more tools to take action up to six months before a person falls into homelessness rather than the current 56-day limit.
That change was welcomed by Rhiannon – a Crisis member involved in shaping the bill. The charity co-ordinated an expert review panel to draw on the experience of people who have been homeless in the past in crafting the law.
Rhiannon said: “Having just weeks to try and prevent my homelessness felt really restricting. There was no time and I had no space to breathe around it and plan. Having more time to work on preventing homelessness would make a big difference.”
A new duty to ‘ask and act’ means public bodies such as health boards, social services, social landlords, prison governors and more will have to work together to prevent homelessness.
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It’s one of many measures that Crisis chief executive Matt Downie described as “world-leading”.
“This is truly a landmark day in Wales. The new Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation Bill has the potential to be life-changing for the thousands of people across Wales that are facing the trauma that comes from living without a stable place to call home,” said Downie.
“The new law includes world-leading measures which aim to drive down high levels of homelessness and help to prevent people from being pushed into homelessness in the first place.”
It will also see care leavers will be given priority treatment when local authorities are allocating social housing.
Shelter Cymru research has found that over 94,000 households in Wales – equivalent to one in every 14 households – are currently waiting for a social home.
The bill will see the Welsh government take the lead on monitoring the level of demand for social homes following a recommendation from Shelter Cymru.
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“As the national provider of independent homelessness and housing advice in Wales, we see every day the shortfalls of the current system and how this impacts people’s lives,” said Ruth Power, the charity’s CEO.
“The Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation Bill offers one part of the solution to our housing emergency in Wales. For the bill to meet its aims, and provide transformative change for Wales, we must deliver the safe, secure and genuinely affordable social homes that people need – at scale and at pace.”
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The Welsh government faced a race against time to get the legislation through the Senedd before May’s elections.
The Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Bill was introduced in May 2025 – a year before the country heads to the polls.
The law managed to pass three months before the election with measures set to come into force after the vote.
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When it was unveiled last year, ministers were aiming to axe priority need, which can prevent some people experiencing homelessness from accessing support, and intentionality – when a person is blocked from support for being judged to have made themselves intentionally homeless.
The bill commits to scrapping both at an undefined future date.
Independent MS Rhys Ab Owen said in Tuesday’s debate: “I would have liked to have seen priority need and intentional homelessness coming to an end before the eighth Senedd, but that isn’t going to happen. It is a shame that it will not happen in the seventh Senedd.”
The current Labour government is trailing behind Plaid Cymru in the polls. YouGov/ITV Wales polling, published last month, had Plaid Cymru securing 37% of the vote ahead of Reform UK on 23%, the Greens on 13% and Labour languishing on 10% alongside the Conservatives.
Whoever comes out on top in May will face the challenge of implementing the new law.
“The work does not end here,” said Downie.”The Welsh government and incoming members of the Senedd after the elections in May 2026 must now invest in the proper implementation of these new laws.
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“It is critical that services have the guidance, funding and resources to really deliver the ambition of the bill and work towards ending homelessness.”
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