Bridgend

Bridgend sits between Cardiff and Swansea, a former coal and steel town now built around retail, light industry, and the old market square that still gives the place a working-class heart. Average household income in the county borough hovers around £31,000 to £33,000 a year, lower than the Welsh average, and that gap shows up fast if you're sleeping rough or couch-surfing here. Bridgend County Borough Council recorded over 100 households owed a homelessness prevention or relief duty in recent statutory homelessness figures, a number that's grown with the cost of living. The Wallich operates in the area and can help with emergency accommodation and move-on support, while Bridgend Foodbank keeps people fed when money runs out before the week does. Missing Link Ynys Y Barri and local council-run housing options teams are also worth approaching if you need a roof assessment or advice on your rights. The town centre has public toilets and a library with heating and a bit of quiet, which matter more than people realise on a hard day. You've made it this far through things most people never have to face, and that counts for something — keep going, one day at a time.