THE WELSH Government has agreed in principle to build 20,000 new affordable homes and invest £126 million into housing-related support in a bid to drastically reduce homelessness.

Housing minister Julie James has announced recommendations from the Homelessness Action Group - a group established to advise the Welsh Government on what actions it needs to take to realise its goal of ending all forms of homelessness, and, where it cannot be prevented ensure it is rare, brief and unrepeated - have been accepted.

The group, chaired by Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis, has submitted a report on the long-term, structural and strategic policies needed to end homelessness.

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The recommendations include building 20,000 new affordable homes during the current Assembly term, investing £126 million into housing-related support, and the creation of the Housing Support Grant.

The youth support grant has been increased by £3.7 million, for a second year, to identify and support young people before they become homeless, and the report recommends further action to increase access to the Private Rented Sector.

“Homelessness is not inevitable, and it’s something which, if we all work together, we know can be ended for good," said Mr Sparkes.

“It is vital that public services, organisations and individuals all do their part in working with anyone who is at risk of homelessness to prevent them from losing their homes in the first place and quickly responding if homelessness cannot be prevented.

“We’re pleased to see the Welsh Government’s commitment to agreeing a plan to end homelessness with partner organisations to ensure Wales can prevent as many people from becoming homeless as possible.

“We look forward to seeing how the action plan the Minister has promised tackles each of the recommendations given but this is a promising step forwards in ensuring each and every person in Wales has somewhere safe and stable to call home.”

Ms James said: “I am pleased there is clearly much in this report that is already reflected in our approach to homelessness prevention - ensuring homelessness only happens very rarely, and when it does happen it is brief, and a family or individual does not repeat their experience of it.

“This is very much the approach the Action Group advocates. The report also very clearly reflects the cross-Government and public service response required to end homelessness which I set out last year.

“I am pleased to announce that I am accepting in principle all the recommendations in this second report and committing to working at pace with partners over the coming months to produce an action plan based on its recommendations. I intend to publish the action plan before the summer recess.”