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Welsh Government announces Housing First funding
The Welsh Government has announced £700,000 in funding for Housing First projects.
Former housing minister Rebecca Evans revealed plans for a nationwide Housing First programme in February.
Through Housing First, rough sleepers are provided with a permanent home with ongoing tailored support measures to help them live independently.
It has been successful in reducing homelessness in other countries such as Canada and Finland.
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The £700,000 will be allocated from the £30m Welsh Government ministers have promised to spend tackling homelessness and rough sleeping in 2018 and 2019.
Conwy and Denbighshire councils will be handed £240,000 to extend their Housing First pilot for 2019/20.
Another £548,000 will be spent on projects in Cardiff – one new council-run Housing First pilot and one existing pilot managed by the Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army will receive another £68,000 for a project in Merthyr Tydfil, while Rhondda Cynon Taf have been allocated £52,000 to extend their Housing First project for ex-offenders.
“Housing First can help people who are homeless and who often have complex needs including severe mental illness or mental health problems, problems with drug and alcohol abuse, poor physical health and a lack of a wider support network,” said Julie James, housing and local government minister for the Welsh Government.
“The cost, in terms of health, emergency services and police budgets, of supporting people while they are on the streets far outweighs the cost of addressing their homelessness.
“We aim to support the most vulnerable people in Wales, and Housing First is a sound investment that can save money, as well as lives, in the long term.”
