New publication shows worrying rise in arrears
It has been more than 14 months since a national housing emergency was declared by the Scottish Government.
And while pinpointing an exact reason for the emergency can be difficult, systemic failures are the driving force behind people throughout the country not having a place to call home.
Across the Citizens Advice network in Scotland, we’re seeing more people come through our CAB doors seeking advice relating to housing, with homelessness being one of main reasons people are asking for help.
Worryingly, private rented sector (PRS) arrears are climbing with more than one in ten people (14%) now in debt, while damp and mould continue to blight homes and lives. The scale and severity of these issues, and more importantly, the real-life impact on people is profound.
It’s these first-hand experiences that are driving our work to find solutions and influence change where change is needed. Home is somewhere we should all feel safe not somewhere that fuels anxiety or dread.
Take Fred* for example, who recently visited his local CAB for support.
As a labourer, work is currently sparse for Fred, and he is claiming Universal Credit. However, his award is dependent on how much work he gets. He has a private let and due to his fluctuating work and low income, he has £1,300 in rent arrears and is juggling credit card debt and council tax arrears. Fred was constantly worried about being evicted. Our network supported Fred to access a Discretionary Housing Payment and a foodbank voucher.
Our advisers provide solutions like this every day to help people facing some of the toughest decisions manage issues in the best way possible.
Fred’s experience brings to life three key things: people rarely just have one advice need when they come to their local CAB, people are experiencing increasingly challenging circumstances and often in crisis, and that despite being employed, many are struggling to afford the essentials we all need.
It’s testament to the holistic nature of our service where CAB advisers have vast knowledge of many different areas and can provide wraparound support. Without this, it’s likely that Fred would have lost his home.
The combination of the life-changing advice CABs provide, with solutions to help fix broken systems led us to develop a new housing brief, Home Truths, which will launch at the end of the month. It will include the most up-to-date insight into what people are experiencing and the solutions needed.
Our network has the largest dataset outside of the public sector in Scotland, and we want to shine a light on the real power this can have to make change. We need action from the Scottish Government to address repairs and expand funding to deal with damp and mould. And we urgently need them to develop and implement a robust housing emergency action plan.
With this new publication, stakeholders and the public will have the evidence and insight to understand the challenges facing people. And, most importantly, decision-makers will be informed and empowered to take bold steps to address the housing issues as we work towards a Scotland where everyone has a safe, secure and sustainable home.
Aoife Deery is housing spokesperson for Citizens Advice Scotland.
This column was first published in the Herald.
