Welsh cut back ‘unrealistic’ target

The Welsh assembly government has watered down one of the key targets in its revised national homelessness strategy because it was unrealistic for councils to achieve.

The assembly had aimed to cut the number of people presenting as unintentionally homeless by 75 per cent by 2008, but has now revised this to 50 per cent.

Unveiling the strategy – updated from the 2003 version – last week, social justice and regeneration minister Edwina Hart said: “I have reviewed the target as I believe that the original figure was not realistic.”

Homelessness groups had objected that a 75 per cent target could discourage councils from accepting people as homeless.

The strategy reiterates commitments to cut priority need homeless households by 20 per cent, the number of people in bed and breakfasts by 50 per cent and the period of time spent in temporary accommodation by a fifth, by 2008.