Housing Emergency Deepening

Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) has responded to the latest homelessness figures, which show a 6% rise in the numbers of people in temporary accommodation in Scotland. 

CAS housing spokesperson Aoife Deery said, 

“These new figures show without doubt the deepening nature of the national housing emergency with over 17,000 households in temporary accommodation last year, an increase of 6%.  Demand for housing advice from our advisers in bureaux across Scotland is also growing, which highlights the value of advice as people face unimaginable uncertainty about their homes.  

“Last year, the Scottish CAB network gave housing advice more than 62,000 times, an increase of 7% on the year before, with a particular surge in demand for advice on homelessness. We need the Scottish Government to immediately implement its housing emergency action plan, published earlier this month. 

“We can see from the statistics that over 400 people became homeless from the private rented sector due to arrears, 15% higher than the year before. Affordability is no doubt a significant factor in this. The average rent debt that private renters come to the CAB network with is now £4,279, 14% higher than last year: people simply do not have enough money to cover rents. Alongside the emergency action plan, we need to see the implementation of the rent control measures contained in the Housing (Scotland) Bill. 

“We also need the UK Government to urgently review Local Housing Allowance and re-align it with real rents. There is a critical opportunity to do this at the Autumn Budget, in line with other social security payments.  

“These are the actions we need from governments to ensure that everyone in Scotland has a safe, secure and sustainable home.”