Marking a year of Housing First homelessness support in Gwynedd
Date: 18/12/2025
Cyngor Gwynedd is marking the first year of its partnership with The Wallich to deliver the Housing First service in the county, helping people experiencing homelessness to access stable housing and support.
Almost 1,000 people presented as homeless in Gwynedd during 2024-25, with many presenting with complex needs, such as mental health problems, substance use, and a history of offending.
The principle behind the Housing First service is that people experiencing homelessness with chronic housing and support needs are offered a stable home first without preconditions, rather than temporary accommodation. Once they have a safe and long-term place to live, The Wallich’s officers can deliver support tailored to the individual’s needs.
Over the past year, the service, funded by Cyngor Gwynedd through the Welsh Government’s Housing Support Grant, has achieved the following:
- Nine people are now living in stable homes, with one more due to move in this December.
- Seven people have been supported to access mental health services.
- Eight people have received support related to substance use.
Ensuring no-one is homeless in the county is a key priority for the Council, with schemes underway to develop more supported housing units and provide support packages for private landlords to encourage access to additional housing. These plans come under the Council's £190 million Housing Action Plan.
A person who received support through Gwynedd’s Housing First service said:
“I’ve been homeless since 2018 and living in emergency accommodation from the Council ever since. But since meeting The Wallich, I can’t believe how much support and help I’ve received. Hats off to them. I’ve never had this kind of support before.
“Now I’m in a very good place. I’m happy, which is something I haven’t been for many years. I’ve got a little one-bedroom flat that I’ll be moving into at the beginning of December. It’s small steps, but I’ve got good plans for the new year. Have patience and good things will come. That’s the key.”
Nicola Lamerick, Housing First Manager at The Wallich, said:
“I want to extend thanks to all our partner agencies for their continued support of the project. At The Wallich, we're committed to delivering a trauma-informed, person-centred service that offers real, lasting solutions to ending homelessness.
“In Gwynedd, we’ve supported individuals who were in incredibly difficult circumstances when we first met them, and now, they’re thriving. I’m immensely proud of the work of my team, their dedication and compassion are genuinely life-changing for those we support. We’ve made fantastic progress, with nearly half of those we support having moved on from long periods of homelessness and now living in safe, permanent accommodation.
“To sustain this momentum, we need more homes. We invite landlords and housing providers to get in touch with us to help drive this service forward. Together, we can offer hope, stability, and a future to those who need it most."
Councillor Paul Rowlinson, Cyngor Gwynedd Cabinet Member for Housing and Property, added:
“Housing First provides a stable home quickly, alongside effective support for people with complex needs experiencing homelessness. The model has been proven to work worldwide, and I’m pleased to see people in Gwynedd benefitting from such a compassionate service. Working in partnership with The Wallich has been key to this success.
“Supporting people experiencing homelessness is a priority for us, and the success of this scheme over the last year is one part of our wider commitment to ultimately ensure that no-one is homeless in Gwynedd.”
The Housing First service is a specialist service available by referral only. If you are homeless, or worried about someone sleeping rough, contact Cyngor Gwynedd’s homelessness service:
Get in touch if you can offer a property to the Housing First service:
TaiynGyntafGwynedd@thewallich.net