HUNDREDS HOMELESS

Figures‘unacceptably high’

Hundreds of Rutherglen and Cambuslang locals are currently without a home.

Leading homelessness charity Shelter has warned that the figures remain unacceptable, although they are declining year on year.

Four- hundred- twenty- six people in Rutherglen and Cambuslang made homelessness applications by November 2016, down from 477 in the 2014/15 period and from 534 before that.

Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland, said: “Right across Scotland there is a severe shortage of affordable housing.

“In the social sector demand far outstrips supply and in the private sector rents are often far above what is truly affordable for people on low or even average incomes whether they are in work or not.

“While we have seen the numbers of people who are accepted as homeless and in need of help coming down, these figures are still unacceptably high and we are concerned that more action is needed if we are not to see progress stall or the problem worsen.”

The figures come as Shelter Scotland launch a new campaign calling for a new nationwide strategy to combat homelessness throughout the country.

Mr Brown added: “Homelessness: Far From Fixed calls for a new national homelessness strategy. This must include significant new house building and improvements to the operation of services for people who are at risk of losing their home or already become homeless.

“We’d welcome people joining our campaign and demanding that Scotland takes the action necessary to meet our ambitions to have a home for everyone.”

Clare Haughey MSP believes that the fact the figures are on a downward trend offers room for encouragement.

She said: “It is good to see homeless applications and the number assessed as homeless across Scotland both reduced during 2015/ 16. The fact that statutory homelessness has been in a marked downward path for the past five years is to be welcomed and the government is committed to doing all that it can to support those who find themselves in difficulty.

“There are many reasons for homelessness. Changes to the benefits system brought in by the UK Government have had an impact. The Scottish Government has channelled additional funds to local authorities to mitigate the impact of the bedroom tax imposed by the Tories.

“We are also working hard to increase the availability of affordable social housing. We have stopped the sale of council housing stock and we are determined to increase and accelerate housing supply by supporting the industry and local authorities to deliver their housing priorities with quality homes in mixed communities that fit local needs.”

A severe shortage of affordable housing