Urgent action needed to help homeless young people in Wales

More needs to be done urgently to address the problem of youth homelessness in Wales, according to a major new report published tomorrow (Wednesday February 7). The National Assembly’s Social Justice and Regeneration Committee has carried out a wide-ranging review of youth homelessness. The Committee found out that whilst the official number of young homeless people in Wales was 782, the real figure is likely to be at least twice that number. In carrying out its review, the Committee talked to voluntary and statutory organisations and to a number of young homeless people across Wales. Some of these people will be at the Senedd today for the launch of the report. The report makes a number of key recommendations for the urgently-needed improvement of services and says that the Welsh Assembly Government should ensure that the extent and quality of service provided to young homeless people is consistent across Wales and that it is available where it is needed. The Assembly Government, local authorities and the voluntary sector should work in partnership to simplify the current complex system of access to and information about the services available. The Assembly Government should assess the need for and, where necessary, provide adequate funding for dedicated homelessness services for young people and young homeless people themselves should be involved in all aspects of planning and policy making for services. The Committee also recommends that local authorities should be given support and guidance to establish regional partnerships to deliver effective services for homeless young people. Janice Gregory AM, Chair of the Committee, said: “Youth homelessness in Wales is a problem that must not be ignored. It affects a significant minority of some of our most vulnerable young people every year. The duty of care that we owe to these young people is great and I believe that they deserve the very best services that we in Wales can provide for them. “We have heard some very harrowing evidence during our review both from young homeless people themselves and from the people who provide services to them. This has strengthened our determination to ensure that, at a time of their lives when they are in crisis, there are organisations and people with the skills and resources to help them.” The Committee’s report on youth homelessness will be launched at 12.45pm on Wednesday February 7 in the Oriel, Senedd, Cardiff Bay. The report will be debated in plenary during the afternoon.