temporary accommodation – Page 2 – The NEN

2,265 children stuck in temporary accommodation in Edinburgh

Scottish Labour MSP Sarah Boyack has warned that children in Edinburgh may be forced to spend Christmas in temporary accommodation.

Across Scotland, the number of children staying in temporary accommodation has soared to a shameful record high of 8,635.

This includes 2,265 children in Edinburgh – an increase of 20 per cent on the previous year and an appalling increase of 930 per cent since 2002.

Overall the length of time people have to spend in temporary accommodation has also been climbing year-on-year across Scotland, with families being hit hardest by long waits.

In Edinburgh couples with children are now typically stuck in temporary accommodation for an average of 725 days.

Scottish Labour MSP Sarah Boyack said: “It is nothing short of a national scandal that 2,265 children in Edinburgh could be spending Christmas in temporary accommodation.

“Things are at crisis point across Scotland, after years of neglect under the SNP.

“Leaving children stranded in limbo for so long will have a devastating effect on their wellbeing, attainment and life chances.

“The SNP need to act urgently to fix this shameful dereliction of duty and make sure families in Edinburgh have the safe, secure housing they need. It is appalling that children can be stuck in temporary accommodation for nearly two years.”

ENDS

Notes

Local Authority	Number of children in temporary accommodation	Average Days Spent in Temporary Accommodation in 2022 – Couple with Children
2002	2021	2022	Change 2021 to 2022 (%)	Change 2002 to 2022 (%)
Scotland	2,390	7,385	8,635	17%	261%	343
Aberdeen City	15	85	110	29%	633%	76
Aberdeenshire	70	65	55	-15%	-21%	84
Angus	15	20	25	25%	67%	0
Argyll & Bute	15	60	45	-25%	200%	196
Clackmannanshire	45	30	45	50%	0%	64
Dumfries & Galloway	50	65	60	-8%	20%	93
Dundee City	100	235	215	-9%	115%	656
East Ayrshire	5	40	45	13%	800%	131
East Dunbartonshire	65	85	80	-6%	23%	288
East Lothian	70	170	180	6%	157%	614
East Renfrewshire	5	20	60	200%	1100%	125
Edinburgh	220	1,880	2,265	20%	930%	725
Eilean Siar	0	20	20	0%		126
Falkirk	70	160	170	6%	143%	291
Fife	195	315	390	24%	100%	174
Glasgow City	475	2,255	2,825	25%	495%	359
Highland	90	210	180	-14%	100%	299
Inverclyde	15	5	0	-100%	-100%	86
Midlothian	10	230	155	-33%	1450%	656
Moray	40	35	35	0%	-13%	81
North Ayrshire	50	70	75	7%	50%	141
North Lanarkshire	100	235	230	-2%	130%	126
Orkney	15	15	20	33%	33%	0
Perth & Kinross	15	5	15	200%	0%	77
Renfrewshire	95	55	60	9%	-37%	112
Scottish Borders	20	40	50	25%	150%	160
Shetland	50	20	15	-25%	-70%	681
South Ayrshire	90	90	105	17%	17%	175
South Lanarkshire	175	370	435	18%	149%	252
Stirling	40	180	190	6%	375%	319
West Dunbartonshire	30	75	90	20%	200%	243
West Lothian	140	250	390	56%	179%	397

Source: https://www.gov.scot/publications/homelessness-scotland-2021-22/documents/

Naya Koulocheri (she/her) | Research & Communications Officer

Extra £16 million committed to tackle homelessness in Scotland

Scotland’s Councils are being given an extra £16 million to help tackle homelessness by moving people swiftly from temporary accommodation into settled homes.

The funding, to be awarded over the next two financial years, takes the total investment in rapid rehousing to £53.5 million. Rapid rehousing aims to ensure people spend the shortest amount of time possible in temporary accommodation, giving them a settled place to live as soon as appropriate.

The package includes an investment of £6.5 million in the Housing First pathfinder to support people with multiple and complex needs.

Housing Secretary Shona Robison said: “Tackling homelessness is about much more than just providing a bed for the night. Temporary accommodation is an important safety net, but most people need a settled place to stay where they can rebuild their lives.

“Rapid rehousing is based around the idea that most people need a settled home, and this new funding will help councils progress their Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans to move people as quickly as possible into appropriate, settled accommodation.

“The best way to reduce the number of households in temporary accommodation is to prevent homelessness from happening in the first place, and today’s announcement follows the recent publication of our consultation on plans for new legal duties on public bodies, highlighting the shared public responsibility to prevent homelessness in Scotland.”

Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans cover an initial period of five years from 2019. The new funding comprises £8 million in 2022/23 and £8 million in 2023/24.

Consultation on prevention of homelessness duties: Closing date 31 March 2022.

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

Tory ‘concern’ over dramatic rise in the number of Edinburgh children in temporary accommodation

Miles Briggs, MSP, has called for action to be taken to address the significant increase of children in temporary accommodation. Continue reading Tory ‘concern’ over dramatic rise in the number of Edinburgh children in temporary accommodation