(This note is not part of the Order)
Under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 (“the 1996 Act”) local housing authorities have a duty to provide accommodation to those who are homeless, eligible for assistance, and in priority need.
Section 189 of the 1996 Act sets out descriptions of persons who are in priority need and also gives the National Assembly for Wales power to specify further descriptions.
This Order specifies the following further descriptions of persons as having priority need:
a care leaver or person at particular risk of sexual or financial exploitation, 18 years or over but under the age of 21 (article 3)
a 16 or 17 year old (article 4)
a person fleeing domestic violence or threatened domestic violence (article 5)
a person homeless after leaving the armed forces (article 6)
a former prisoner homeless after being released from custody (article 7).