Alarm as Number of Homeless Children in Wales Rises by 59%

There has been an alarming rise in the number of children placed in temporary accommodation in Wales over the last two years according to the latest statistics. 

Figures released by the Welsh Government this week show that during October 2022, 475 dependent children aged under 16 were presented as homeless and placed into temporary accommodation, an increase of 59% (or 299) since October 2020.

Overall, including adults, 1,567 people across Wales presented as homeless and were placed into temporary accommodation, 591 more since August 2020.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds has expressed her concern over the figures, stating that the rising cost of living may be forcing more people into homelessness and such a dramatic rise in children experiencing homelessness is particularly concerning.

Previous data by the Welsh Government has shown that the number of households threatened with homelessness (Section 66) in the year 2021- 22 stood at 9,228, representing a shocking increase of 27% compared to the previous year.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats are calling for the Welsh Labour Government to take action to prevent children and adults from falling into homelessness including delivering higher numbers of social housing stock at a faster rate.

Commenting Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS said:

“The rise in these figures is deeply concerning, but it is the steep rise in children presenting as homeless that I find particularly alarming.

“The pressure of high bills and spiralling inflation and low incomes in Wales alongside inaction by the Conservative Party has brought people and families to the edge.

“We now need to see urgent action from the Welsh Labour Government to make more social housing available, policies like clamping down on second homes has got us so far, but it doesn’t change the fact there is a chronic shortage of housing, both social and regular in Wales.

“We also need to see the Conservative UK Government to raise housing benefits.

“No child deserves to be homeless and everyone has a right to a stable space to live and the Welsh Liberal Democrats will continue to campaign to have that right enshrined in legislation in Wales.”