Children living in temporary accommodation represent a "personal tragedy"
More children are being forced to live in temporary accommodation in Scotland, new figures show.
The quarterly Homelessness in Scotland report shows local authorities received 8,500 applications for homelessness assistance during April to June 2015, 7% lower than in the same period in 2014.
But the number of children in temporary accommodation increased by 15% - 626 children – compared to the same period last year.
There were 10,666 households in temporary homelessness accommodation by the end of June this year - a 472 household increase on 2014.
Over a quarter of these were households with children.
Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland, said the figures represented a “personal tragedy”.
The real tragedy of these figures is the 626 extra children being forced to live in temporary accommodation - Graeme Brown
He added they were indicative of a growing bottleneck of people stuck in temporary accommodation due to the huge lack of affordable housing.
“Alarm bells should be ringing that Scotland may be slipping back on the progress it has made on tackling homelessness post devolution,” said Brown.
“Now is the time for bold and renewed action. The Scottish Government needs to ensure that a major affordable house-building programme is implemented before things get even worse.”
Earlier this year the Commission on Housing and Wellbeing reported that homeless children missed an average of 55 school days per year due to their home situation, impacting their education, health and life chances.
Brown continued: “So the real tragedy of these figures is the 626 extra children being forced to live in temporary accommodation.
“We must make major changes now so that no child has to suffer the trauma of homelessness in the future.”
Housing minister Margaret Burgess said the although vast majority of homeless families in temporary accommodation are in good quality, well-managed, furnished social housing, she was concerned by the figures.
“My officials have contacted the 11 local authorities who have seen increases of more than 10 children over the past year to ask why the number has increased.
“We have had a number of explanations and councils have expressed a commitment to reducing the numbers which the Scottish Government welcome and we will monitor progress.”
