Dip in number of homeless people but rise in children living in temporary homes
More children are homeless or living in unpleasant and unsatisfactory temporary accommodation, new statistics show.
Figures from Scotland's chief statistician showed the number of people in Scotland assessed as homeless or under the threat of being homeless went down by 5% in the 2015/16.
However, there were 591 more children classed as homeless or living in temporary accommodation in 2015/16 than the year before.
Adam Lang, Shelter Scotland's head of communications and policy, said: "The impact of poverty and homelessness on children's health and life chances can be devastating.
"Children living in temporary accommodation can miss up to 55 school days a year, that's a quarter of the school year.
"If Scotland is serious about tackling child poverty and closing the educational attainment gap, then ministers must act now to ensure that all children in Scotland have access to a safe, secure and affordable home."
Ministers must act now to ensure that all children in Scotland have access to a safe, secure and affordable home - Adam Lang
Scottish housing minister Kevin Stewart said: "It is our aim to stop people becoming homeless in the first place which is much better for our people and our communities, and of course our homelessness services.
"While there are many reasons for families staying in temporary accommodation, I am disappointed in the increase in the number of children in temporary accommodation."
Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis, added: "Although the majority of temporary accommodation is good quality, well managed social housing which is of the exact same standard as permanent accommodation, I am keen to see these numbers decrease and people to have a settled home.
“Despite the extension of rights, homelessness is increasingly visible on the streets of Scotland’s cities.
"There is no room for complacency, which is why we’re calling for a more robust, proactive approach to prevention and for Scottish Government to develop a strategic approach to homelessness across government that mitigates recent cuts to local authority budgets and social security.”
