Scottish homelessness drops by 11%
The number of Scottish families and individuals experiencing homelessness has dropped by 11 per cent, according to official statistics.
Figures released by the Scottish government today show there were 9,474 applications for homelessness assistance to councils between April and June 2013 – 11 per cent lower than the same period in 2012.
Local authorities made 7,649 homelessness of threatened with homelessness assessments – a 10 per cent drop on the year before.
The number of households with children in temporary accommodation was 2,821 – a reduction of 14 per cent.
The total number of households in temporary accommodation remained nearly stable, at 10,494.
Margaret Burgess, the housing minister, said: ‘I know the heartache and trauma of homelessness from working closely with households faced with the prospect of losing the roof over their head and welcome the continued fall in homelessness across Scotland.
‘This builds on our historic achievement last year in meeting the homelessness 2012 target.
‘While we welcome this continued improvement, we are concerned that Westminster’s welfare changes may undermine this good work.’
Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, welcomed the reduction, but said: ‘Homelessness in Scotland is still too high and we cannot afford to be complacent or lose sight of the fact that over 7,649 households found themselves homeless in just three months.
‘The root cause of homelessness is a housing crisis which has seen the housing safety net stripped apart after decades of under-investment. The only way forward is for the Scottish Government to build at least 10,000 new social homes a year to bring hope to the 155,100 on local authority housing waiting
lists and much-needed jobs to the construction sector.’
David Ogilvie, policy manager for Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, said: ‘These statistics show an ongoing reduction in homelessness in Scotland, much of which is down to the strong emphasis in Scottish Government policy placed upon homelessness prevention and tenancy sustainment.
However, while any drop in homelessness in the short term is to be applauded, we must be careful to guard against complacency.
‘We are concerned that, with the rollout of the UK coalition government’s welfare reforms, come some serious challenges to homelessness service provision which could undermine some of the excellent homelessness prevention and tenancy sustainment work carried out by social landlords and others here in Scotland.’