“Change happens when lived experience is not just included, but centred”

Posted by Sara O'Shea in Blog 8 min read

Polling Station signs outside a school in the UK.

Tomorrow, Wales will go to the polls to elect 96 new Members of the Senedd, and crucially a new Welsh Government. Whatever the outcome of that election one thing we know is that tackling the housing emergency will need to be high up on the list of priorities.

To help us all better understand what each party would do to tackle this issue the housing sector recently came together for two special hustings events – one in Swansea and one in Wrexham. These events – arranged by our friends at the Wallich – gave people with lived experience of the housing emergency the opportunity to hear from candidates about both their personal views and their party’s. Each of these events were attended by one of Shelter Cymru’s team of Peer Researchers.

In addition, another of our Peer Researchers recently attended a hustings event in Newport organised by the Salvation Army. This event wasn’t housing specific but inevitably the scale of the housing emergency meant it was an issue that was touched upon several times.

What follows in this blog are their reflections on what they heard at these events. In this they are speaking from their positions as experts by experience.

In the 20 years since my daughter and I spent two years in temporary accommodation, why has nothing changed for the better?

Katey Jo Pilling attended a hustings event in Wrexham. Here’s what she had to say:

With trepidation and a little excitement, I dove into the world of Welsh politics and the prospective new Senedd Ministers or Cabinet Secretaries at the Wrexham hustings. I was disappointed to see that no one from Welsh Labour or Reform UK was able to attend; I would have enjoyed hearing from both. Plaid Cymru, the Welsh Green Party, and the Welsh Conservatives did attend, and the event ended up being quite an informal gathering, which, in my opinion, allowed for more conversation and discourse from the audience and party representatives alike.

There were some hard‑hitting questions asked and points raised by a very diverse audience. These included highlighting the need for more social housing; asking what actions each party would take to combat the rising cost of rents; querying what support they would put in place for vulnerable people to maintain tenancies and avoid ending up back in the system; and the very large and controversial topic of racism and anti‑immigration rhetoric. I felt that each party responded well when faced with these questions, though as we all know, words are meaningless without action and accountability.

Whilst at this hustings event, I asked the candidates the following questions:

In the 20 years since my daughter and I spent two years in temporary accommodation, why has nothing changed for the better? Why are families still living for years in unsuitable conditions? And what does each party plan to do to change this?

These questions not only stemmed from my own lived experience of being homeless and living in temporary accommodation, but also from my experience as a peer researcher, where I have reviewed far too many cases similar to my own and interviewed people experiencing homelessness and temporary accommodation.

In response to my question, each party tried to give an answer, though all relied heavily on “build more social homes.” Whilst this is the obvious answer, building more social homes takes years to achieve, and quite frankly, we need change now, not in 10–20 years’ time. We’ve been waiting for far too long already.

I hope that whichever party ends up being elected to the Senedd, they work for the betterment of the Welsh people, stand by their convictions, strive for a country that is fairer for all, and get those much‑needed homes built

Hope matters—but so does action

Mark Eaton-Lees attended a hustings event in Swansea. Here are his reflections on the event:

A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend a housing and homelessness hustings in Swansea. It was one of those events that stays with you—not just because of what was said on the panel, but because of who was in the room.

The space was filled with people who understood housing not as an abstract policy issue, but as something deeply personal. People with lived experience of homelessness sat alongside frontline staff and organisations, all there for the same reason: to make sure our voices were heard ahead of the Welsh elections.

What stood out immediately was the tone. This wasn’t a hostile political debate. It felt grounded, respectful, and—most importantly—real. The questions reflected that. They weren’t theoretical or performative; they came from experience. Questions about temporary accommodation, empty homes, rent levels, and the reality of trying to move on into stable housing.

One question that stayed with me was about how candidates would support people stuck in temporary accommodation to access permanent homes. It’s a simple question on the surface, but anyone who’s been through that system knows how complex and frustrating it can be. Hearing candidates respond to that—knowing the reality behind it—felt important.

There was also a moment that has stayed with me since. One candidate spoke several times about offering people a “pathway to hope.” And while that message was clearly well-intentioned, it made me reflect on something deeper. For many people experiencing homelessness, hope isn’t the thing that’s missing. People hold onto hope every day, often in incredibly difficult circumstances. What’s often missing is action—clear, practical steps that turn that hope into something real. A pathway to hope matters—but a pathway to a safe, secure home matters more.

Another powerful moment was hearing directly from people in the room. When you’ve experienced homelessness, being listened to—genuinely listened to—can’t be taken for granted. Events like this begin to shift that. They create space for lived experience to shape the conversation, rather than just being spoken about.

There was also something encouraging about the cross-party nature of the event. Candidates from across the political spectrum showed up and engaged. While there were differences in approach, there was at least a shared recognition that housing and homelessness are urgent issues that need attention.

For me, the event reinforced something I’ve come to believe strongly: change happens when lived experience is not just included, but centred. When policymakers and candidates hear directly from those affected, it challenges assumptions and brings a level of accountability that statistics alone can’t provide.

It was also a reminder of the importance of participation. Alongside the discussions, there was support for people to register to vote. That matters. Because having a voice in a room is one thing—but having a voice at the ballot box is another.

I left the hustings feeling a mix of realism and cautious optimism. The challenges are significant, and the answers aren’t simple. But seeing people come together, ask honest questions, and push for better—that felt like a step in the right direction.

Most of all, it reminded me that lived experience isn’t just something to be included—it’s something that can shape the future of housing policy in a meaningful way.

The questions were very telling of the current issues at the forefront of Welsh people’s minds, particularly around the cost of living

Robyn Poole-Jones attended a hustings event in Newport organised by the Salvation Army. Unlike the Wrexham and Swansea hustings, this event enabled members of the public to ask questions on a range of topics, not just housing and homelessness. Here is what Robyn had to say about the event:

The hustings held by the Salvation Army was the first hustings event I have attended. There were candidates from the Green Party, Plaid Cymru, Reform, the Welsh Conservatives, and the Liberal Democrats present. However, the Labour Party candidate was unable to attend on this occasion.

I felt that a variety of questions were put to each candidate, and that these were very telling of the current issues at the forefront of Welsh people’s minds, particularly around the cost of living. The questions covered topics such as young people’s employment, foodbanks, the NHS, and freedom to worship. Whilst there were no specific housing‑based questions asked, the topic did come up in response to other questions.

The Green Party candidate was most notable for mentioning housing issues. When someone asked the candidates what their party would do about young people who were on benefits and who were struggling to find employment, he highlighted how high housing costs were contributing to this issue. Later on, in response to a question about foodbanks, the Green Party candidate mentioned the division between rich and poor widening and the need to introduce rent caps and build more affordable social housing.

Overall, I felt the hustings was a success and I had a positive experience. The Salvation Army team was friendly and welcoming to all. Most notable though were the times when candidates drew housing into a discussion of other issues, demonstrating how they understand the reality that Home is Everything.

These three hustings’ events have enabled people who care deeply about housing injustice to scrutinise potential Senedd Members and to gain a more detailed picture of what each party thinks is key on housing. But equally as important is the fact that these events ensured people heard directly from those with lived experience of the housing emergency.

We can now only hope that those who triumph in the Senedd elections this week have truly listened, and that they will act quickly to ensure everyone in Wales has a safe and secure place to call home.

Please note, these are the peer researchers subjective reflections speaking from a perspective as experts by experience. They do not represent the experiences of other people attending these events, or the views of Shelter Cymru.

If you would like to read about the changes Shelter Cymru believe are necessary to end the housing emergency in Wales then you can find our manifesto online here: Shelter Cymru 2026 Manifesto: Home is Everything, Vote for It – Shelter Cymru

You can also find the manifestos of each of the parties represented at these hustings online in the following places: