Challenges to Implementing the New Homelessness Prevention Agenda in Wales

Abstract

Devolution presented an opportunity for the Welsh Government to introduce changes to housing and homelessness policy, and the subsequent homelessness reforms are seen as one of the best examples to date of the Welsh Government using its powers. However, devolved governments in small countries face a number of challenges in terms of realising their housing policy ambitions. In this article we argue that there is inevitable dissonance between the policy behind the Welsh Government legislation (prevention) and practice (implementation) associated with structural challenges (for example, austerity and budget restrictions, Welfare Reform and the availability of affordable accommodation). In response we propose a number of actions the Welsh Government might undertake to attempt to mitigate such structural challenges which also resonate in the English context where welfare retrenchment and homelessness prevention policies operate simultaneously.

Making the Prevention of Homelessness a Priority: The Role of Social Innovation

“…One of the most interesting policy directions supporting the prevention of homelessness comes from Wales. The Housing Act of 2014 clearly articulates what kinds of interventions are supported, the structural changes that are needed to achieve this end, and which parts of government must be involved (Mackie 2015; Mackie et al 2017; Ahmed et al 2020). Central to this legislation is the notion of a “duty to assist,” whereby local authorities, if they become aware that a person is at risk of, or is experiencing homelessness, have a duty to offer assistance, and if accepted, to make efforts to remedy the situation within 56 days.…”

Homelessness Prevention Policy in an International Context: The Housing Act (Wales) 2014

“…for Housing Solutions staff. The issue of resources is also considered a significant challenge for the successful future implementation of the Act (this is discussed in Ahmed et al, 2019).…”

“…Again, shortage of suitable accommodation compounds these issues. There are a number of significant structural challenges which will impact on the successful implementation of the Act (see Rogers et al, 2019;Ahmed et al, 2019).…”

“…Such challenges include an increased administrative burden; more bureaucratic working arrangements; and higher and more complex workloads for Housing Solutions staff. The issue of resources is also considered a significant challenge for the successful future implementation of the Act (this is discussed in Ahmed et al, 2019).…”

“…Local authority respondents and service provider participants expressed concerns about the lack of available social housing and also raised issues regarding the use of the private rented sector: there were significant misgivings about how this operates in practice (Ahmed et al, 2018). Concerns centred on the lack of available affordable accommodationone bed properties in particular; insecurity of tenure; the poor condition of some properties; and the unwillingness of some private landlords to rehouse people in receipt of welfare benefits (discussed in Ahmed et al, 2019). An ideal homelessness system is underpinned by prevention, a strong safety net and robust assessment measures to reduce perverse outcomes (Wilcox et al, 2010).…”