Post-implementation evaluation of part 2 of the Housing Act (Wales) 2014 : final report

Research aims and methodology: 1.1 The Housing Act (Wales) 2014 introduced major changes to the way homelessness is being addressed (from April 2015), with the core changes in Part 2 of the Act aimed at extending services preventing homelessness and providing assistance to all eligible applicants. A longitudinal postimplementation evaluation of this part of the Act, which focuses on both process and impact, is now complete. 1.2 The overall aim of the evaluation is to understand how the Act has been implemented by organisations involved in supporting people at risk of homelessness (local authorities, housing associations and third sector organisations). The research will inform the Welsh Government’s understanding of the impact of the Act on people who are homeless/at risk of homelessness. 1.3 The specific evaluation objectives are as follows: To evaluate the implementation of the legislation by local authorities To evaluate the short and longer term impacts of the new legislation To identify the need for further improvements, developments and support to ensure consistently good services are delivered across Wales To assess the impact of the legislation on service users, local authorities and key partners To evaluate the impacts on homelessness of the much greater emphasis on prevention that is a core feature of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 1.4 The evaluation comprised two waves of fieldwork. The final report presents the findings from the second wave of fieldwork and reviews relevant findings from the interim report. 1.5 The Housing Act (Wales) 2014 – implemented in April 2015 - introduced a number of changes in the way that homelessness is addressed in Wales. The main changes include: The introduction of new duties for local authorities to help prevent homelessness for anyone who asks for help and the duty that authorities carry out ‘reasonable steps’ to prevent or relieve homelessness. More flexible interventions by local authorities to ensure more effective prevention of homelessness A change in organisational culture to underpin a person-centred approach between local authorities and people who come forward for assistance Increasing the length of time when people are considered to be threatened with homelessness from 28 to 56 days and extending the prevention duty to all, not just those in priority need Changes in the application of priority need, intentionality and local connection provisions Creating a new framework to involve housing associations Creating a new framework to work with the private rented sector in alleviating homelessness.