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Homeless households in B&B accommodation in Wales rises 29%
The number of households placed in temporary bed and breakfast accommodation in Wales has risen 29%.
The latest government figures showed that 2,187 households were placed in B&Bs in 2022-23, a 29% rise on the previous year.
At the same time, 5,481 households were placed in other types of temporary accommodation, an increase of 23% over the same period.
Overall, a total of 12,537 households were assessed as homeless and owed a duty to help secure accommodation, an increase of 7% on 2021-22.
Of those households, 30% were successfully helped to secure accommodation.
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Just under 5,100 households were identified as unintentionally homeless and in priority need, a 25% increase on 2021-22.
In 71% of these cases, an offer of settled suitable accommodation was accepted.
The Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru said: “Despite the Welsh government’s commitment to increasing the supply of affordable homes, clearly these latest homelessness figures reveal that we are still struggling to turn the corner on the systemic and structural causes of the housing and homeless crisis.
“We need a radical shift in the way we view housing in terms of the public policy priority ladder, we need to make it a foundation mission. A sustainable and affordable home is part of ensuring people have a good life, good health and a good start in life.
“A right to adequate housing is the foundation to everything, and we need to embed that in law through the incorporation of a right to adequate housing.”
In June, the Welsh government launched a green paper consultation seeking views on its proposals for what it described as a “right to adequate housing”, alongside plans for rent controls and affordability.
In response to the latest homelessness figures, a Welsh government spokesperson said: “We continue to adopt a ‘no one left out’ approach to homelessness and introduced regulations last year to ensure no one is forced to sleep rough in Wales.
“We are investing over £210m in homelessness prevention this year alone, to provide support at the earliest opportunity, including a £15m increase to the homelessness prevention budget in the current financial year.”
The government estimates there are 405 rough sleepers in Wales. In addition, it pointed out that more than 38,600 people experiencing homelessness have been supported with temporary accommodation since March 2020.
The spokesperson added: “Rough sleeping is a complex issue, and we continue to support local authorities to take an assertive outreach approach and ensure wrap-around support to both support people into accommodation and to help them sustain it.”
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