Homelessness at Record Highs: A Glimpse into Wales’ Housing Crisis

Homelessness in Wales has reached its highest level since legislative changes nine years ago, with over 13,500 households experiencing homelessness last year. Alongside this stark figure, the number of people living in temporary accommodations, such as bed and breakfasts or hotels, has also risen sharply. This troubling trend highlights a growing housing crisis across the country.

Charmaine’s Story: A Life in Limbo

Charmaine is one of the many individuals caught in this housing crisis. For the past three years, she has lived in a shared recovery house managed by the charity The Wallich. Having struggled with heroin and crack cocaine addiction since the age of 16, Charmaine moved into the house to rebuild her life after a difficult upbringing in care.

Now, after turning her life around, Charmaine has been ready to move into her own home for the past two years. However, like thousands of others, she has found no available housing.

“I’m scratching at the door to get out,” Charmaine explains. “It’s starting to affect me mentally. Being in temporary accommodation for such a long time… someone else could be having the help that I had.”

Charmaine longs for a permanent address, which would allow her to have visitors, spend time with family, and pursue volunteering opportunities. For her, a stable home represents not just physical shelter but also the chance to give back to her community and create a positive future.

The Broader Picture: Newport’s Housing Challenge

Newport, a city with the highest rate of homelessness in Wales, paints a grim picture of the crisis. Over the past year, homelessness in Newport has risen by more than 50%. The city’s housing team, led by Kath Howls, faces unprecedented challenges in addressing this surge.

“It’s never been more challenging to provide the best services for the citizens of the city,” Howls notes. “We’ve got our highest number of households in temporary accommodation, coupled with very low turnover of our Housing Association stock.”

This bottleneck leaves people like Charmaine in limbo, unable to move into permanent housing due to a lack of available homes.

The Human Cost of Temporary Housing

For Charmaine, temporary housing has become a source of emotional strain. As her fourth Christmas in the shared recovery house approaches, she reflects on the life milestones she is missing.

“I was hoping to put up my own Christmas tree this year,” she says. “I want to start having Christmas in my own place with my nieces and just having a home of my own because that’s what everyone deserves, don’t they? Everyone deserves somewhere they call home.”

Calls for Action

The Bevan Foundation has called for an urgent increase in the construction of social housing to address the crisis. The Welsh Government acknowledges the issue, stating that it has allocated record levels of funding and prioritizes the delivery of more homes.

While Charmaine is grateful for the support she has received, she yearns for a fresh start. For her, a permanent home would not only provide stability but also open the door to new opportunities, marking the beginning of a new chapter in her life.

A Shared Responsibility

Charmaine’s story is a powerful reminder of the human cost of the housing crisis in Wales. Behind every statistic are individuals whose lives are on hold, waiting for the stability that a permanent home can bring. As homelessness reaches record levels, the need for collective action—through increased housing stock, government initiatives, and community support—has never been more urgent.

If Charmaine’s story has moved you, consider taking action to help address the housing crisis in Wales. Whether it’s by supporting charities like The Wallich, advocating for more social housing, or volunteering with local organizations, every contribution can make a difference.

Together, we can ensure that everyone has the opportunity to find a place they can call home. Check out Pathway Borough Social Housing to learn more about how you can help. Every step we take brings us closer to a future where stories like Charmaine’s have the happy endings they deserve.