Committee publication · Correspondence · 15 April 2026
Correspondence to and from Crisis, relating to the evidence session on 25 February, dated 9 and 10 March
From: Welsh Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Housing and homelessness in Wales
Summary
Crisis's Head of Policy and Communications submitted detailed written evidence to the Welsh Affairs Committee following her 25 February 2026 testimony on homelessness. The correspondence addresses welfare reforms, Local Housing Allowance restoration, NASS move-on periods, Welsh legislative measures on homelessness duties, data harmonisation, and PIP reform consultation, providing supporting research and policy recommendations focused on protecting vulnerable people from housing insecurity.
Key findings
- Crisis emphasises that restoring Local Housing Allowance to cover the cheapest 30% of rents is the single most impactful policy lever for reducing homelessness in Wales, supported by Crisis-Heriot Watt University modelling.
- The 42-day NASS move-on period (extended from 28 days) is welcomed but Crisis questions why the previously trialled 56-day period was not made permanent, and calls for timely decision letters and support for those with settled status.
- Welsh Homelessness and Social Housing Allocations Bill's exclusion of reserved bodies (police, Home Office, wider DWP) from new public sector duties is regretted; Crisis urges UK-Wales Government conversations to add these bodies retrospectively.
- Crisis members report significant accessibility barriers to welfare benefits, particularly for those with lower literacy or neurodivergence; the Timms Review on PIP should consult people with lived experience of homelessness given documented barriers to medical evidence and GP access.
- Discretionary Housing Payments allocations for Wales are consistently insufficient; DWP allocations fall short of local authority need across all surveyed authorities.
Tone
FactualTopics
Key actors
Ruth Jones MP, Debbie Thomas, Crisis, Welsh Affairs Committee, Heriot-Watt University, Shelter Cymru, Homes for All Cymru Alliance, UK Government
Notable line
“… restoring LHA is a policy lever that would have the greatest impact on reducing homelessness in Wales of those analysed in the report.”
Key Quotes
“Further to your evidence, I would be grateful if you would share more detailed views on the UK Government's planned welfare reforms, which we didn't manage to comprehensively cover at the session.”
“… restoring LHA holds an invest to save incentive.”
“… a significant lack in the number of affordable private rental properties to those who rely on housing benefit – particularly in Wales. This, alongside the lack of social housing …”
“… understanding and navigating applications for benefits was complex, particularly where people have lower levels of literacy or are neurodivergent.”
“… homelessness. Indeed, at our South Wales Skylight service we see people who have moved on from NASS accommodation, but misunderstood systems and processes, which has made it even harder for them to access a secure home.”
“… all local authorities surveyed regard DHPs as a "hugely important" resource. Unfortunately, and particularly given the shortfalls of other aspects of the housing benefit system …”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗