Responding to the Welsh Liberal Democrat manifesto published today, Jon Sparkes, chief executive of homelessness charity Crisis, said:

“We’re delighted to see the Welsh Liberal Democrats adopt the recent UK party manifesto pledges to increase housing benefit to cover the cost of local rents, and to abolish the Vagrancy Act to help ensure people on the street in England and Wales are given support rather than being moved on by police.

“It’s positive to see the party recognises the importance of building new social housing and giving support to people so that everybody in our society can have the stability of a safe home.  There are currently many people experiencing homelessness now – in hostels and bed and breakfasts, sofa surfing or living on the streets. But we know it doesn’t need to be this way. Whoever forms the next Government in Westminster has the power to put in place policies and approaches for the whole of Great Britain that can help end homelessness.”