Concerns as Stirling sees spike in homeless population
Stirling is facing a homelessness surge after new figures revealed the region had seen the largest percentage rise of homeless households in Scotland in the past year.
The startling statistic is detailed in a report released by the Scottish Government last week, which showed that Stirling registered a total of 590 homeless households in the region in the period between April 2019 and the end of March 2020.
It represents a rise of 127 on the same period in 2018-19 - a 27 per cent rise overall.
The data also reveals that Stirling sits above the national average for the number of homeless households per 1,000 of population, with Stirling’s rate at 7.5 compared to the Scottish rate of 6.9.
Using the same measurement, neighbouring Clackmannanshire and Falkirk also find themselves sitting above the Scottish average, with the Clackmannanshire average of 10.0 the second highest in Scotland.
The issue of homelessness locally was brought into the spotlight in February when the Observer reported on the tragic case of a 36-year-old Polish man whose body was discovered in the doorway of the former BHS store in Murray Place.
Following the death, police confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the man’s death.
The region’s political representatives admitted the latest figures were a “concern”, with one pointing the finger at UK Government policies for the surge.
People have now seen a decade of austerity which has put many families and individuals into some nearly impossible situations MP Alyn Smith