Stories behind the statistics: Why we need a bold plan to end the use of temporary accommodation in Wales
Shah Farahi, Research and Policy Advisor, and Alex Myles, External Affairs Assistant, Community Housing Cymru (CHC)
We all know that home is a foundation from which the rest of our lives are built. It’s also the platform on which every national priority relies: health, education, the economy and jobs. Good, affordable homes are Wales’ prevention infrastructure.
That over 2,500 children are living in temporary accommodation in Wales, according to the latest statistics, is truly staggering. This means thousands of young lives in Wales are on hold, uncertain about where and when their next move could be. Out of these 2,500 children, hundreds are waking up in bed and breakfasts, with no bedroom to call their own.
Analysis published by CHC today has shown that, devastatingly, children are experiencing temporary accommodation at a higher rate than adults in Wales.
The latest statistical release covering the month of October last year shows that one in every 216 children was living in temporary accommodation compared to one in every 360 adults.
While the number of people living in temporary accommodation is gradually declining from its peak in August 2023, the number of people - including dependent children under 16 years of age - living in temporary accommodation remains persistently high.
Our report has three other key findings:
We are not making progress fast enough: Individuals in temporary accommodation declined by 4% in October 2025 as compared to October 2024; however, the monthly average reductions are sluggish, with an average of 0.38% over the first ten months of 2025
Too many people are still reaching a housing crisis: New people are continuing to enter temporary accommodation at a significant rate - on average, nearly 12% of the total number of individuals in temporary accommodation have been new entrants over the last 22 months
We continue to see cycles of repeated homelessness: 15% of people entering temporary accommodation in October 2025 had already been in temporary accommodation within the last 12 months
Each number represents a life being lived in limbo, and the human cost of this is far too high.
Behind every statistic is a human story like single mum Billie and her young daughter.
Billie's story
Billie found herself facing homelessness due to a relationship breakdown. With no option to stay in the family home and friends unable to support, she and her young daughter were placed in emergency accommodation.
For six months, Billie lived in a bed and breakfast with her young daughter. She continued to work part-time and care for her daughter - determined to maintain stability for her family.
However, this experience had a significant disruption on Billie’s daughter’s life in particular, affecting her sleep and school routine.
Supported by a homelessness prevention officer at Conwy Council, a new chapter of support began with an offer of a permanent home by Cartrefi Conwy, a housing association operating in the area.
Billie and her daughter are now living in a safe, suitable social home provided by Cartrefi Conwy.
“Moving into a permanent home has changed everything,” Billie said. “My daughter has her own space, she’s sleeping better and we can finally settle into a routine.
“I now have a future I can look forward to, in our own home where we feel safe”
As we look ahead to May’s election, CHC is looking to all political parties to make children living in temporary accommodation, particularly in bed and breakfast, a thing of the past.
We need a bold, deliverable plan to end Wales’ housing emergency; a plan that is underpinned by a clear understanding of housing and support needs which will be vital in tackling the number of people entering TA, including repeat occurrences, and improving the rate of placements in suitable long-term accommodation.
The flow of households into long-term accommodation continues to limit the speed at which temporary accommodation can be reduced. By building more affordable homes, we can change lives.
As well as an ambitious affordable homes delivery target of 60,000 over 10 years, allowing quicker move-on from temporary accommodation, a programme of meaningful investment is also needed to keep people in their homes and tackle homelessness.
It is not enough to do what we have always done.
Our manifesto is a call to action: we need the next Welsh Government to invest in more homes, better homes and healthier and fairer places to end the housing emergency.