A Carmarthenshire man, who spent nearly a year living in the woods after a no-fault eviction, is now settled in his own home and volunteering at a local food bank, following support from homelessness charity, The Wallich.
Andre Hopkins (46) had lived in Carmarthenshire for 15 years before losing his flat when his landlord decided to sell. After receiving six months’ notice, he had nowhere else to go and was forced to camp in the woods in Neath Port Talbot in a make-shift log fixture he built himself.
“I thought I was going to be in the woods forever, thinking how did my life come to this?”, Andre said.
“Living in the woods was alright in the summer, but winter was tough. The day The Wallich got in touch, I was at breaking point and on the verge of giving up. I had a big beard like Grizzly Adams! It had been a hard 18 months from losing my home to knocking on doors for help. They really are lifesavers.”
Andre moved into Ty Raena in Port Talbot, a 12-bed supported accommodation project run by The Wallich, where he stayed for 18 months to get back on his feet. The Wallich Prevention and Wellbeing Service team then helped Andre to move into a permanent one-bedroom flat in the area, which he can now call home. He is now volunteering at his local food bank.
Andre continued: “Since I lived in the woods, I’ve come out a better person. I appreciate everything so much more, like running water. We take too much for granted.
“Everything is falling into place nicely now and I’m settling in. I’ve also started volunteering at the local foodbank. It’s nice to give something back, especially since I’ve used services myself. It’s a good way to meet the community too.
“The Wallich are worth their weight in gold – I’m genuinely grateful for them”.
Andre’s experience illustrates the growing number of people across Wales experiencing homelessness after losing a tenancy through no fault of their own, compounded by a shortage of affordable housing.
Sian Aldridge, Director of Operations at The Wallich, said: “Andre’s story shows how quickly someone’s life can be turned upside down through no fault of their own.
“In June 2025, Welsh Government figures show that there were 10,933 individuals living in temporary accommodation. With affordable housing in short supply, prevention and long-term support have never been more important.
“Services, such as The Wallich’s Prevention and Wellbeing Service and supported accommodation, play a crucial role in helping people move into settled homes and avoid returning to homelessness.”
The Wallich is Wales’s largest homelessness and rough sleeping charity. It works with more than 7,000 people every year across Wales, running more than 100 projects in 20 local authorities.
