Wales faces rising homelessness as new government vows 20,000 social homes by 2030
Homelessness in Wales has climbed over the past decade, and the Plaid Cymru administration has pledged to deliver 20,000 additional social homes and cut reliance on unsuitable temporary accommodation.
Over the last ten years, Wales has seen a surge in homelessness driven by economic pressures and limited house building, despite successive Labour-led administrations. Recent figures indicate a modest decline in temporary accommodation to 10,535 individuals in July 2026, down from earlier peaks, with 2,386 children under 16 still in such settings. The majority of those without permanent homes reside in local authority stock, B&Bs, hotels, hostels or private rentals, while roughly 155 people are estimated to be sleeping rough.
The Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Act 2026 obliges public bodies to expand interventions and eliminate the use of B&Bs and hotels. Plaid Cymru, now governing without a majority, has pledged 20,000 extra social homes by 2030 and created the Unnos agency, overseen by housing minister Siân Gwenllian, to deliver affordable, energy-efficient housing for social and intermediate rent. Success will be measured by future statistics on accommodation placements and rough-sleeper counts.
Why it matters
Housing stability affects health, education and economic prospects for thousands of Welsh families.
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