200 families are testament to Scots housing shortage

Published on 23/12/2012 00:00

MORE than 200 Scottish families will spend their second Christmas in succession in temporary accommodation, new figures have revealed.

In total there are 2,050 families stuck in temporary accommodation across the country waiting to be placed in socially rented housing, according to statistic obtained by the Lib Dems using Freedom of Information legislation.

Temporary accommodation includes social sector accommodation, hostels and bed and breakfasts.

All 32 Scottish local authorities were asked to provide information on the number of families in temporary accommodation.

Lib Dem housing spokesman Jim Hume has said many families are facing desperate circumstances over the festive period.

Hume said: “At a time when many of us are spending Christmas at home and putting the finishing touches to the tree, it is heart-breaking to discover that over 2,000 families with children will be spending this Christmas in temporary accommodation.

“For 200 of those families, this will be their second Christmas without a home to call their own.

“If we are to break the chain of poverty and meaningfully improve the lives of the worst off Scots, the foundations must begin with permanent housing from which to bid a stable life.

He added: “Home repossessions are increasing in Scotland whilst there has been a staggering 66 per cent decline in housing association new- builds.

“Local authorities are working hard to meet homelessness targets whereby all unintentionally homeless people will be entitled to settled accommodation.

“The SNP government has created the perfect storm in social housing which will hit the most deprived hardest.”