No child should have to spend Christmas in temporary accommodation, says local MSP

Labour MSP Foysol Choudhuryhas warned that children may be stuck in temporary accommodation this Christmas, with the latest figures showing 850 families in Edinburgh were in temporary accommodation.

Across Scotland, the number of families in temporary accommodation has hit a 10 year high, with latest figures suggesting 3,645 families are in temporary accommodation.

The length of time people are spending stranded in temporary accommodation is also rising nation-wide. Since its low point in 2014, this figure has increased by an astonishing 47 per cent.

In Edinburgh, not only are there 850 families stuck in temporary accommodation, but the average stay for a couple with children is an appalling 541 days.

Edinburgh Labour list MSP Foysol Choudhury said: “It is a scandal that so many children across Scotland will be stuck in temporary accommodation this Christmas.

“Here in Edinburgh there are 850 families in temporary accommodation, with families typically waiting 541. It is simply unacceptable.

“These children are being badly failed by the SNP, who have ignored the warning signs year after year.  

“Leaving thousands of children in limbo for months on end will have a devastating impact on these children’s wellbeing, attainment and life chances.

“This is not a housing strategy – it is a total dereliction of duty that should shame the SNP.

“Families must have the safe and secure housing they need, and children should never bear the burden of the failures of the SNP Government .”

Source: https://www.gov.scot/publications/homelessness-scotland-2020-2021/documents/

	Number of households with children or a pregnant woman in temporary accommodation	Average stays in temporary accommodation (2020-21)
Single Person	Single Parent	Couple	Couple with Children	Other	Other with Children	All
Scotland	3,645	182	235	190	341	209	294	199
Aberdeen City	50	144	88	210	117	77	103	131
Aberdeenshire	35	134	124	159	163	123	136	134
Angus	5	238	163	207	9	.	289	229
Argyll & Bute	30	249	212	75	461	151	179	243
Clackmannanshire	15	136	91	137	94	58	200	128
Dumfries & Galloway	30	126	141	117	190	156	200	130
Dundee City	105	141	188	196	457	187	209	161
East Ayrshire	20	116	136	96	137	143	.	121
East Dunbartonshire	45	390	481	322	328	206	386	400
East Lothian	90	363	282	269	259	302	630	343
East Renfrewshire	15	163	237	133	286	287	304	176
Edinburgh	850	264	458	312	541	205	519	318
Eilean Siar	10	349	294	105	285	.	.	327
Falkirk	105	188	240	175	212	289	95	198
Fife	165	182	163	105	254	203	242	179
Glasgow City	925	191	298	238	391	341	427	225
Highland	130	357	329	328	412	179	321	350
Inverclyde	5	110	184	121	.	.	380	118
Midlothian	160	452	778	27	865	241	615	614
Moray	20	161	105	140	210	130	109	150
North Ayrshire	45	154	107	196	346	160	50	149
North Lanarkshire	115	139	130	87	172	138	188	136
Orkney	10	212	227	21	108	249	.	210
Perth & Kinross	5	80	82	62	130	28	89	79
Renfrewshire	35	118	109	201	316	78	146	117
Scottish Borders	25	133	131	.	289	98	122	134
Shetland	15	397	263	308	231	.	.	379
South Ayrshire	55	147	162	136	153	122	.	149
South Lanarkshire	220	151	277	241	348	150	310	197
Stirling	100	230	255	214	266	517	41	237
West Dunbartonshire	50	230	149	157	188	71	157	214
West Lothian	165	171	245	284	259	185	334	197