This seminar presents emerging findings from the independent evaluation of the Degartref Gwreiddiau Môn Roots Project, an innovative partnership programme seeking to make homelessness rare, brief and non-recurrent across the rural communities of Anglesey. Delivered through collaboration between voluntary, statutory and community organisations, the project provides early intervention, trauma-informed and person-centred support to individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, alongside a dedicated prison resettlement strand.
The seminar explores how homelessness prevention is experienced and delivered within a rural context, where housing shortages, limited transport, spatial isolation and hidden homelessness create distinctive challenges. The project seeks to address these barriers through outreach work, welfare and debt advice, housing support, community-based activities and coordinated partnership working. Particular attention is given to the project's relational approach, which emphasises trust, flexibility and long-term engagement rather than short-term crisis intervention.
Drawing on qualitative interviews with project staff and ongoing evaluation research, the seminar discusses evidence of improvements in housing stability, wellbeing, confidence and social participation, alongside strengthened partnership working across housing, welfare, health and criminal justice services. It also considers the project's work with prison leavers, a group at heightened risk of homelessness, and its contribution to efforts to reduce reoffending through stable accommodation and sustained support.
The presentation will reflect on the opportunities and challenges of delivering homelessness prevention in rural Wales and consider how learning from Anglesey can inform wider debates on homelessness policy, rapid rehousing, trauma-informed practice and the implementation of recent homelessness reforms in Wales.
This seminar will be delivered through the medium of English.
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