Charity in plea over 4,000 homeless children

MORE THAN 4,000 children will be homeless in Scotland over Christmas this year, according to a housing charity.

The charity said a chronic shortage of affordable social housing is the root cause of the problem. Picture: Robert Perry

The number is enough to fill the Scottish Parliament 32 times over, Shelter pointed out as it prepared to launch its Christmas campaign.

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Shelter's digital poster campaign for more social housing. Picture: PA

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The charity said a “chronic” shortage of affordable social housing is the root cause of the problem and it is calling on the Government to build at least 10,000 new social homes each year to address the problem and begin to reduce long council house waiting lists.

As part of its Christmas 2014 appeal, Shelter Scotland will be joined by primary school pupils, campaigners and MSPs to decorate a tree with little red houses.

Director Graeme Brown said: “It’s completely unacceptable that in the 21st century 4,228 children in Scotland will spend this Christmas homeless - that’s enough to fill the Scottish Parliament chamber 32 times over and equivalent to more than two homeless children for every primary school in Scotland.

“The temporary accommodation they are forced to live in is often poor quality housing where they can spend months or even years waiting for a home of their own.

“We need to see 10,000 new social homes built each year to tackle Scotland’s housing crisis. That way, we can work towards a future where no child has to wake up on Christmas morning, or any other morning, in such awful circumstances.

“To help support Shelter Scotland, people can visit shelterscotland.org or text to SHELTER 70123 and donate £3 to support our work to prevent homelessness and give a child a warm, secure home when they need it - especially at Christmas.”

SEE ALSO:

• New appeal to help UK’s 90,000 homeless children

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