Responding to the latest figures on homeless families the Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Communities, Housing and Social Justice, Peter Black, has called on the Welsh government to outline its plans to fund additional social housing around Wales.
Mr. Black's comments come in response to the release of statistics from the Local Government Data Unit Wales that show that the amount of time it takes for local authorities to discharge their duties to the statutory homeless has increased by 43% since 2005-2006 to 113 days. The previous figure was only 79 days. There has also been an increase in the time people spend in temporary accommodation from 102 days in 2005-2006 to 118 days.
"These figures reflect the pressure that local authority housing is under," said Mr Black. "Most local Councils do not have enough properties to re-house those who present themselves as homeless. As a result families have to spend longer and longer in temporary accommodation. In some cases this is unsuitable bed and breakfast accommodation, although this is being phased out."
"The only answer to this issue is urgent and direct investment in more social housing to rent. This has been promised by the Plaid Cymru-Labour Government but we are still awaiting details of their plans. Even the promised legislation on affordable housing was taken off the agenda a month ago and has not re-appeared. It is crucial that the Welsh government publishes its plans to deal with this problem soon."
