Why are we consulting
The consultation is being undertaken to support Carmarthenshire County Council in fulfilling Welsh Government requirements to develop a four-year Housing Support Programme (HSP) Strategy to prevent homelessness and provide housing related support.
The strategy will span 2027 to 2031 and incorporates statutory homelessness duties under the new Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Act 2026 alongside the allocation of the Welsh Government Housing Support Grant.
The purpose of the consultation is to gather evidence from Carmarthenshire citizens, partner organisations and other stakeholders to develop a comprehensive understanding of the current and future homelessness and support needs across Carmarthenshire.
Whilst the needs assessment draws upon a wide range of demographic, economic and market data, consultation is an essential part of the process. It supplements the quantitative analysis by providing valuable insight into the lived experiences of citizens, support providers and employers, adding context to the data and helping to explain the factors behind emerging trends, challenges and opportunities. This richer evidence enables the Council to understand not only what is happening within the housing market, but also why it is happening and what practical solutions stakeholders believe will make the greatest difference.
Through consultation, the Council will be able to identify unmet need and barriers to accessing housing support, understand the reasons for homelessness and gather views on the support, funding and policy changes needed to meet future demand.
The findings will inform Carmarthenshire's 2027–2031 Housing Support Programme Strategy and its accompanying Action Plan, ensuring that future planning, investment and support for homelessness support services are evidence-based, reflect local priorities and are shaped by the views and experiences of those who know the sector and the communities it serves best.
How to get involved
There will be several opportunities for individuals and organisations to contribute to the Housing Support Programme Strategy throughout the consultation period.
Participation will primarily be by invitation, with relevant stakeholders being contacted directly by Carmarthenshire County Council to take part in:
- virtual or in-person focus groups; and
- targeted engagement sessions with specific stakeholder groups.
Online surveys will also be available for citizens, enabling participants to contribute easily at a time that is convenient for them.
The consultation has been designed to be as inclusive and accessible as possible. Participants will be able to contribute in Welsh or English, and support will be available where required to enable meaningful participation.
Contribute by completing the online survey.
Next Steps
Consultation responses will be analysed alongside demographic and housing and homelessness market data to provide a comprehensive assessment of homelessness and housing support needs across Carmarthenshire. The findings will validate and add context to the quantitative evidence, identify priorities for improvement, and directly inform the development of the 2027–2031 Housing Support Programme Strategy and accompanying Action Plan.
Following approval, the final documents will be submitted to the Welsh Government and used to guide the future planning and development of services to prevent homelessness across the county.
