Calls in Senedd for legal right to adequate housing

Cardiff: The Senedd is buzzing with discussions about making adequate housing a legal right in Wales. It’s a big deal, especially with the housing crisis getting worse.

Siân Gwenllian, a member of Plaid Cymru, really laid it out there. She pointed out that homelessness is at an all-time high. Can you believe that? Six out of every 1,000 kids are living in temporary housing. That’s just heartbreaking.

She also mentioned that the amount of social housing has dropped significantly over the last 40 years. Plus, a lot of the homes in Wales are pretty old. It’s not a great combo.

And get this: 70% of private renters are dealing with cold, damp, or moldy homes. On top of that, rents are climbing faster here than in Scotland or England. It’s a tough situation for many folks.

Siân raised concerns about second homes and holiday lets taking away housing options for locals. It’s like a double whammy for people trying to find a place to live.

She emphasized that we need legislation to tackle this crisis. Just talking about it isn’t enough anymore. A legal right to housing would put pressure on the government to act.

She wasn’t too impressed with the Welsh Government’s recent proposals, calling them weak. She pointed to countries like Finland and Austria as examples of how a legal right to housing can make a real difference.

Wales’ housing secretary, Jayne Bryant, acknowledged the importance of having a safe and affordable home. She mentioned that her government is working on a renters’ rights bill and plans to introduce new legislation to combat homelessness by 2026.

After the debate on January 8, the motion got unanimous support from Senedd members, but it might not go far without backing from the ministers who didn’t vote.