Welsh Senedd Elections 2026: Party promises on homelessness
Last updated: 29.04.2026
Ahead of the Senedd elections on 7 May, our Senior Policy and Public Affairs Officer, Lauren Caley, summarises each party’s pledges on homelessness and housing.
More than 12,000 people across Wales are facing the very worst forms of homelessness – street homelessness, sleeping on sofas, living in cars, or stuck in temporary accommodation for months without a clear end in sight.
Because of our research, we know that, without bold action, homelessness in Wales will rise by 24% over the next 15 years. However, with bold action, underscored by a clear strategy and financial commitments, we know we can end homelessness in Wales.
That’s why, in the run up to the Welsh Parliament elections, Crisis has been calling on all political parties to commit to action to end homelessness and build more homes – particularly social homes. You can read Crisis’ three asks for the next Senedd in our 2026 Election Manifesto.
Now, with just over a week to go until the public head to the polls to elect the members for our next Welsh Parliament, we’ve taken a look at the six largest parties’ manifesto commitments on housing and homelessness.
Ending Homelessness
Across the manifestos, we’re pleased to see that five parties have set out direct commitments on homelessness.
Welsh Labour has set itself the target of ending homelessness in Wales by 2034 and the Welsh Conservatives, Wales Green Party, and Welsh Liberal Democrats have each committed to creating a homelessness strategy (with the Welsh Conservatives focusing specifically on street homelessness).
Plaid Cymru has set out an intention to create a legal “right to adequate housing” with a focus on using the right to address homelessness. The Wales Green Party have also committed to this legal right, but provide less detail in their manifesto on this.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the Wales Green Party all explicitly mention the prevention of homelessness within their manifestos. Similarly, Welsh Labour have pointed to their recently passed reformed homelessness law which has prevention as a clear priority, setting out their continued commitment to bring forward these changes.
Creating more homes
Crisis has been clear that building more affordable homes, particularly social homes, is a critical part of ending homelessness.
Every party has committed to creating more homes in Wales. The types of home and the timelines they are working in then varies across party proposals:
The Welsh Conservatives have committed to 40,000 new homes by 2030, but have not specified how many of these will be affordable or social homes.
Welsh Labour have committed to 100,000 new homes by 2036, with 40,000 of these as social or affordable homes.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats have committed to building 30,000 social homes but have not specified a deadline for this.
The Wales Green Party have committed to delivering 60,000 additional affordable homes by 2036, with social homes as the priority within this.
Plaid Cymru have committed to 20,000 new social homes by 2030.
The Reform UK manifesto refers to building the “right homes in the right places” and that the data suggests a current deficit of 10,000 homes in Wales, without further detail at this point on types of home or timelines.
Supporting people
In addition to the above, parties make a number of specific commitments on homelessness and housing support.
The Welsh Conservatives say they would look at ending the use of hotels and caravans as emergency accommodation for families and look at guidance to prevent delays to homelessness support around local connection.
The Wales Green Party manifesto pledges to push for the UK Government to remove the freeze on Local Housing Allowance (housing benefit) and to look at clear pathways for survivors of domestic abuse and violence to secure long-term housing. It also makes a number of pledges for private renters, including ending no-fault evictions, banning rent-bidding, creating a new housing ombudsman, as well as rights for pet-owners and disabled tenants.
In addition to their commitment to end homelessness by 2034, the Welsh Labour party pledges to end the use B and Bs as temporary accommodation for families by 2030. The party says they would further reform private renters’ rights with the introduction of a guarantor scheme and rights for pet-owners.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats pledge to ensure access to homelessness prevention and advice services, as well as to look at longer term funding for Housing First. . Housing First prioritises moving people into a home of their own first and provides wraparound support for people experiencing homelessness with high support needs like mental ill health ..
Plaid Cymru say they will put the newly passed homelessness law into practice and review its progress. They also make a number of pledges on private renting, including ending no-fault evictions, restricting rent-bidding, capping rent increases and new rights for pet-owners.
Reform UK Wales says it will introduce a ten-year residency requirement before households in Wales can register for a social home. The party say that the proposal wouldn’t apply to veterans, domestic abuse survivors or care leavers under 25. Their manifesto also says it wants to stop use of Houses in Multiple Occupation for migrants. These policies would have a significant impact for people who have been granted legal rights to remain in the UK and are in the process of looking for a stable place to call home, and could exacerbate homelessness for these groups.
More information
There is much more to unpack than we’ve had scope for in this short blog. Indeed, the various party manifestos make many more references to housing, including around empty homes, Rent Smart Wales, home ownership and to the housing planning processes. You can check out each of the manifestos in full here:
Join us
As we draw closer to the elections, this remains a critical time to speak up on the need to make ending homelessness a priority in the next Welsh Parliament. Candidates from all parties across Wales are keen to hear about the issues that matter to their constituents.
You can join us in speaking up on ending homelessness – check out our resources to help you when speaking to party representatives and candidates.