Increased temporary accommodation needed in lockdown

DUNDEE City Council has been forced to create more temporary accommodation to support rising numbers of homeless people.

The local authority has teamed up with local partners to overcome challenges posed by the pandemic, said neighbourhood services convener Councillor Anne Rendall.

“We are working to ensure nobody who finds themselves homeless is left behind, especially under the current circumstances where people are at even more risk out on the streets,” she said. “Before the coronavirus outbreak the turnover of people leaving temporary accommodation was enough to be able to meet demand, but we have reached the point where we have had to create more temporary accommodation to meet continuing demand.”

The city-wide effort includes hostel and temporary accommodation providers who are supporting people with food, financial help, health inquiries and benefit assistance.

The council has also joined Police Scotland, Department for Work and Pensions, criminal justice and the third sector to manage the early prisoner release programme.

Councillor Rendall said: “We’re aware of prisoners who have been released early, and have no home to return to in the city.

“This is something we would be doing on a regular basis under normal circumstances anyway under our statutory duties, but there is a real urgency to this work during the pandemic.

“Not all prisoners who are released will require temporary accommodation but it is vital support is in place for this programme to be successful.”