One-week limit on temporary accommodation could save £29m, says Crisis

News02.05.1812.01 AM by Sophie Barnes

Scottish councils could save £29m this year if they moved all single people out of unsuitable temporary accommodation after a week, new research from Crisis has concluded.

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Seven-day temporary accommodation limit could save £29m, says Crisis #ukhousing

There are currently 2,070 households living in unsuitable temporary accommodation in Scotland. These are bed and breakfasts or hostels with no support system in place. Scotland has laws against families spending longer than six weeks in temporary accommodation, but there is no limit for other homeless people.

Research commissioned by Crisis, and carried out by PwC, has estimated that each time a single person is moved out of unsuitable temporary accommodation within seven days it saves £812. Crisis said the total cost of housing single people in temporary accommodation in Scotland is estimated at £78m.

Last year the Scottish Government cut the length of time families and pregnant women spend in temporary accommodation to seven days. Crisis is calling for a seven-day limit to be introduced for all homeless people in temporary accommodation.

In 2003 the Scottish Government abolished priority need for the homeless, which means everyone approaching a council for help with homelessness will be supported. But Crisis said without a limit on the length of time single people without children can spend in temporary accommodation, they are remaining there for “prolonged periods of time”.

Those spending long periods in temporary accommodation have said they have no access to basic amenities such as cooking and laundry facilities, they can be asked to leave within a few hours’ notice, and they feel isolated.

Kevin Stewart, housing minister, said: “As this report rightly recognises, Scotland already has some of the strongest and most progressive housing rights for homeless people. To continue that, we are taking forward a number of significant actions to deliver our commitment to ending homelessness, backed by a £50m fund.

“Our Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group – chaired by Crisis Chief Executive Jon Sparkes – is leading the way in recommending the actions and legislative changes needed to secure our ambitions. They have already provided strong recommendations to tackle rough sleeping over winter, and eradicate it for good – which we have accepted, and provided funding to see implemented.

“Their work continues at pace as they develop recommendations to further transform temporary accommodation, and end homelessness for good. I look forward to recieving those soon and working closely with partners to ensure everyone has access to a safe, warm place to home.”