Charmaine Denton has been waiting for a permanent home for more than two years, and she’s far from alone.

The 38-year-old is “scratching at the door” to move after three years in subsidized housing, which she said had damaged her mental health and left her feeling like her life was on hold.

Homelessness is at a record high in Wales and the number using temporary accommodation such as hostels has risen by 18% to 6,447 in 2023-24.

Charmaine, from Carmarthenshire, said: “I was hoping to put up my own Christmas tree this year. I just want to call a place home – that’s what everyone deserves, right?”