Charities and politicians go on the attack as new housing statistics show rise in homelessness

Homelessness is on the rise as hundreds more Scots children are living in temporary accommodation, official figures have revealed.

Despite homelessness falling consistently over the last decade, the new figures show a 2% hike in applications for assistance in the six months to September last year to 17,797.

Scottish Labour's housing spokesperson Pauline McNeill MSP said the figures were “deeply troubling” and “a mark of shame on the SNP” while Shelter Scotland called them unacceptable.

Scottish Government data shows there were 6,581 children in temporary accommodation at the end of September last year, an increase of 594 (10%) over the year. This is mainly council or social housing, although about 1% of households with youngsters were in B&Bs.

Adam Lang, head of communications and policy at Shelter Scotland, said: “This must be a wake-up call for local and national government that Scotland’s progress on tackling homelessness has stalled and in some places, is getting worse.

“Shelter Scotland has been warning for some time now that the situation is critical and with these figures revealing another increase in homeless children in temporary accommodation (up 10 per cent) we need urgent strategic action to reverse this trend.

“These are not just numbers, they represent thousands of people’s lives suffering the human tragedy of homelessness.

“It is now time for leadership and strategic action on homelessness at a local and national level that makes a real difference on the ground for everyone in Scotland at risk of or suffering homelessness.”

And Pauline McNeil added: ““It is clear now more than ever that urgent action is needed if we are to eradicate homelessness once and for all.

“The SNP must use the powers of the Scottish Parliament to put an end to the austerity policies that are driving people into homelessness and start seriously tackling the rough sleeping crisis.”