The average time a person has spent living in temporary accommodation exceeds 100 days in most of Scotland’s local authorities.
Figures obtained by the Scottish Conservatives via Freedom of Information requests reveal that, in over two-thirds of councils, both adults and children have been stuck in temporary accommodation for more than 100 days.
The worst stats are for Fife Council, where the average stay was 1,215 days for all ages, rising to 1,493 days for children.
The figures come against the backdrop of three Scottish local authorities declaring a housing emergency, including Edinburgh and Glasgow, and a £166million cut to the housing budget by the SNP Government.
Scottish Conservative shadow housing secretary Miles Briggs is calling for Nationalist ministers to declare a national housing emergency.
Scottish Conservative shadow housing secretary, Miles Briggs MSP said: “It is completely unacceptable that so many people are left languishing in temporary accommodation for so long in so many councils across Scotland.
“The figures for Fife Council are so horrendous they almost defy belief for, supposedly, ‘temporary’ stays.
“These waits should be a source of embarrassment for the SNP-Green Government. It is disgraceful that so many people – but especially children – across Scotland endure months in unsuitable digs.
“Too many people are suffering the consequences of the SNP’s inaction over the housing crisis. Their damaging rent control policy and brutal cuts to the housing budget have only made matters worse.
“With a record number of children trapped in temporary housing, and three councils declaring a housing emergency, it’s high time SNP and Green ministers recognised the true scale of the crisis that Scotland is facing.
“The SNP must urgently declare a national housing emergency and, more importantly, take action to ensure every vulnerable person in need of housing is provided with a safe place to stay.”
Notes
Average temporary accommodation stays exceed 100 days in most Scottish local authorities. A series of FOIs from the Scottish Conservatives has shown that in 24 out of 32 local authorities the average time a person of any age spent in temporary accommodation for the fiscal year 2022-23 exceeded 100 days. For children, the figure is similar, with children in at least 24 councils spending an average of equal to or more than 100 days in temporary accommodation. Fife Council indicated that the average temporary accommodation stay was 1,215 days for all ages and 1,493 days for children. (FOIs available on request).
The number of children in temporary accommodation has reached a record high. 15,039 households were reported as living in temporary accommodation, including 9,595 children representing a 9% increase since last year. (Homelessness in Scotland: 2022-23, Scottish Government, 29 August 2023, link).
The SNP Government cut the overall housing budget by £166 million last year. In 2022-23, the SNP Government allocated £888 million towards housing. However, in 2023-24 they will be allocating £721.6 million. This is a £166.4m cut in cash terms. (Scottish Budget: 2023-24, The Scottish Government, 15 December 2022, p. 44, link).
Three Scottish Councils have declared a housing emergency. Argyll and Bute Council, Edinburgh City Council and Glasgow City Councils have all declared a housing emergency in 2023. (BBC News, 30 November 2023, link).