“Where will they go, other than into homelessness?” – Plaid Cymru calls for permanent ban on no fault evictions

Responding to a report by the Bevan Foundation published today, which states that over 80,000 households in Wales have been told they will lose their home, Plaid Cymru’s Equalities spokesperson, Sioned Williams MS says the right to housing must be enshrined in law and has called for a permanent ban on no fault evictions.

The Welsh Government recently confirmed that current legislation to restrict evictions will expire on 30 June.

The Bevan Foundation report ‘A snapshot of poverty’ also includes the statistic that of the households with the lowest income, one in five saw a drop in income since January. Ms Williams has called the figures “shocking” but says these inequalities “are unfortunately not new problems in Wales.“

Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson for Social Justice and Equalities, Sioned Williams MS said,

“These are shocking figures, but the inequalities revealed by insecure housing and  levels of low pay are unfortunately not new problems in Wales. We have a housing crisis in Wales and the knock-on effect has already reached some of the poorest communities.

“Today’s report from Bevan Foundation shows clearly that social renters and parents or guardians are particularly vulnerable. With the report also showing that some low income families have seen a drop in income since January of this year, and over 80,000 households being told they have no home, we are left with the question of where will they go, other than into homelessness?

“Plaid Cymru have long argued for measures such as a ban on no fault eviction and expanding the threshold for free school meals as ways to mitigate the effects of poverty and ensure a level of dignity for everyone who lives in Wales.”