Edinburgh councillors and Scottish Ministers must action to improve families’ experiences of social housing and temporary accommodation and private sector accommodation in the capital.
New research has uncovered how inadequate housing in the city is badly affecting families’ health, wellbeing, and overall quality of life.
This small study was carried out by parents living in social housing themselves, with support from The Poverty Alliance, and Muirhouse community organisation Low Income Families Together (LIFT).
The research was commissioned by the Scottish Health Equity Research Unit (SHERU) at the University of Strathclyde and funded by the Health Foundation.
Families in the research say that mould and damp are a common issue, with the solutions offered often feeling temporary, rather than getting to the root of the problem.
The research also highlights issues with repairs and maintenance processes with social housing providers not meeting standards under the ‘Right to Repair’ scheme, where tenants have the right to have small urgent repairs carried out within a given timescale.
Families shared experiences of jumping through hoops to get support with housing issues and parents described feeling ‘left in the dark’ when it comes to hearing back from housing officers.
The report says access to person-centred, timely and compassionate support from social housing providers is vital.
Pauline Nicol-Bowie MBE, Founder and CEO of LIFT, said: “LIFT has been supporting families in North Edinburgh for nine years, and it is heartbreaking that we are still hearing the same stories about housing, homelessness and families living in unsuitable accommodation. In fact, from what we see every day, the situation has become worse.
“Parents shared their experiences, not because it is easy to talk about their struggles, but because they desperately want things to change for their children and for other families.
“These parents have done their part. They have shared their stories, highlighted the problems and helped identify what needs to change. Now they deserve to see those voices turned into action.”
Fiona McHardy, Research Fellow, Scottish Health Equity Research Unit, said: “This community-led research highlights the troubling gap between Scotland’s national ambitions for improving housing and families’ everyday experience.
“Our research shows that the housing emergency is making it increasingly difficult for services to translate policy ambitions into support on the ground.
“In a challenging fiscal climate and wider public sector reform context, closing this implementation gap will require sustained national investment in prevention, stronger alignment between national and local priorities, and coordinated action across services.”
Poverty Alliance Research Manager Dr Laura Robertson said: “Homelessness statistics published last month show that Edinburgh continues to face housing pressures with 3,820 children living in temporary accommodation in the city.
“This research unveils the real, lived experiences of the housing emergency in Edinburgh. Housing is the foundation for health and wellbeing, but the effects of inadequate housing supply and conditions are affecting families’ physical and mental health.
“Families involved in the research want to see compassionate, consistent housing support, improved repairs and maintenance processes, and good quality, habitable housing and green spaces, where their children can play freely and safely.
“Housing is a key driver of child poverty in Scotland and adequate funding of social homes by the Scottish Government is vital to ensure we end the injustice of child poverty in Scotland.”
