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Scotland temporary accommodation levels hit record high
Record numbers of households and children are living in temporary accommodation in Scotland while overall homelessness levels have also increased, data from the Scottish government shows.
There were 11,665 households in temporary accommodation across Scotland on 31 March 2020, an increase of 676 (6%) from the year before, according to official statistics released yesterday.
The figures reflect a steady increase in the number of households using this type of accommodation since records began in 2002, when the number was just 4,153.
In total there were 31,333 households assessed by councils as either homeless or threatened with homelessness – an increase of 1,097 (4%) on 2018/19.
The data also revealed a record number of children living in accommodation at 7,280, an increase of 485 (7%) compared with the previous year.
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In 4,595 cases, homeless households were not offered temporary accommodation, with 3,835 of these instances occurring in Glasgow.
The figures come after the council revealed in May 2019 that it was cutting £2.6m from third-sector organisations that provide temporary accommodation for homeless people in the city, reducing the number of beds available by 68 (7%).
In December, the Scottish Housing Regulator announced an official inquiry into the council’s homelessness service.
On yesterday’s data, Maggie Brunjes, chief of executive of Homeless Network Scotland, said the figures show that there is “still more work to do”.
She added: “The figures also highlight housing supply and housing access issues and increasing the supply of suitable homes for families and individuals is pressing.
“Effective prevention can stop homelessness before it starts and a top-level group is working on how we can get better at this.
“If someone’s homelessness is not prevented, that person should be accommodated quickly in normal, settled housing with the right support – this is the focus of Scotland’s rapid rehousing and Housing First approach.”
Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis, said: “The current public health emergency has reinforced the importance of everyone having a safe home.
“It is vital that the Scottish government continues to build on the progress made throughout the pandemic by putting in place measures to prevent people becoming homeless.”
