NOT enough is being done to battle homelessness in Wales, Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood has claimed.

Speaking in the Senedd earlier this week Ms Wood criticised the Welsh Government for not not doing more to support people at risk of homelessness.

Recent statistics show 2,448 households in Wales are registered as homeless, while there are 313 people sleeping rough across Wales, including 17 in Newport.

Addressing first minister Carwyn Jones Ms Jones said more could be done if power over benefits, as well as sanctions, was devolved to Wales.

"Preventing homelessness, as you know, saves money in other public services," she said.

"It also saves lives, because the increase in recent drug-related deaths is linked to homelessness.

"It’s for those reasons that we prioritised the Supporting People budget as part of our recent budget negotiations."

She added: "Are you seriously saying that there is nothing else that you can do to stop this growing crisis in homelessness until there is another Labour government elected in Westminster some time in the distant future?

"Is that the best that you can come up with for rough sleepers in this country?"

Mr Jones replied: "The recent homelessness statistics for the first quarter of 2017-18 show a steady rate of success in times of increasing demand.

"Sixty-three per cent of all households threatened with homelessness have had their homelessness prevented in Wales because of legislation that we introduced, the legislation we know has been influential enough because England is now looking to copy us."

The Welsh Government's draft budget for 2018-21019 included an extra £10 million over two years to help local authorities battle homelessness.