Number of homeless families in temporary lodgings up 15%

Published on Monday 12 October 2009 10:00

NEW figures have revealed a 15 per cent rise in the number of homeless families being housed in temporary accommodation in the Capital.

The number of households given a temporary place to stay rose from 595 in March 2007 to 685 in March this year.

The figures, released by Housing Minister Alex Neil in answer to a parliamentary question from Lothians Tory MSP Gavin Brown, showed a similar picture across the region.

In East Lothian, households in temporary accommodation rose from 192 to 261 over the two-year period; in West Lothian, the figure rose from 326 to 270; but in Midlothian it dipped from 310 to 308.

Mr Brown said the upward trend was a cause for concern.

He said: "These are not just statistics – they are individuals and families who are having to live in difficult circumstances.

"It is up to the current Government to act quickly in order to halt the rise in the number of people who are houses in temporary accommodation."

Graeme Brown, director of housing charity Shelter Scotland, said recent homelessness statistics had shown local authorities in Edinburgh and the Lothians making steady progress towards the 2012 target of all homeless people having the right to a home. "However, this has been at the cost of increasing numbers of families being stuck in temporary housing across Edinburgh and the Lothians owing to the desperate lack of affordable rented homes.

"There are two things we can do. The first is to recognise that the answer to using expensive temporary accommodation is providing more permanent homes and for the Scottish Government to revise its budget to make this a reality.

"The second is to acknowledge that new homes cannot be built overnight so, in the meantime there needs to be a new standard for temporary accommodation set."

City council housing convener Paul Edie said the increase in families in temporary accommodation was fuelled by more people moving to the Capital and more homes being repossessed due to the credit crunch.