Number of homeless children in Scotland moves towards 5,000
The latest quarterly statistics on homelessness showed that on 31 December there were 10,467 individuals and families who were homeless and living somewhere on a temporary basis, a rise of 2 per cent on December 2014. Over the same period, the number of children in this situation increased by 543 to 4,876 – a rise of 13 per cent.
Housing campaigners and opposition politicians condemned the rise in homeless youngsters living in temporary accommodation – which can include council homes, hostels and B&Bs.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdGraeme Brown, director of housing charity Shelter Scotland, said: “This is the third annual rise in the number of homeless children in Scotland. A 13 per cent rise is simply unacceptable.”
Mr Brown argued there needs to be a new national homelessness strategy for Scotland.
An SNP spokesman said: “We do not want families to be in temporary accommodation for any longer than they need to be and have taken this issue up directly with local authorities.”