Concerns over homelessness
Homelessness in South Lanarkshire is higher than the national average.
At the housing and technical resources committee last week (February 7), it was revealed that the area has experienced a 19 per cent increase in the past five years compared to a national rise of nine per cent.
In October 2017, the Scottish Government established the ‘Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group’ to develop solutions to end homelessness.
Recommendations included a requirement for local authorities to develop a five-year rapid rehousing transition plan which would set out the local context and detail actions to achieve a step in reducing homelessness.
In the fourth year of the rehousing plan, it was revealed that there were challenges both locally and nationally and national statistics reflecting homelessness were at the highest level since current statistics began in 2002.
Councillor Andrea Cowan (Rutherglen Central and North) questioned why homelessness in South Lanarkshire is so high.
She said: “Homelessness is going up throughout the whole country, but it does concern me that in South Lanarkshire, homelessness has went up by 19 per cent when the national average is nine per cent, and I know there is no one cause, but I just wondered if you had any thoughts as to why the homelessness figure for South Lanarkshire has taken such a big jump?”
Council officers stated there are a range of reasons as to why homelessness has surged in the area. Those include people asking family members to leave family homes and relationship breakdowns.
In South Lanarkshire, the overall caseload for duty to offer secure accommodation increased by 46 per cent from a record low point below 860 during 2021, to 966 by the end of March 2022 to 1407 by March 2023.
At the meeting, it was announced that the council will struggle to meet statutory duties and maintain performance and cost in relation to key aspects of the homeless service.
But actions have been identified to address the emergency homelessness situation in South Lanarkshire including reviewing and revising the council’s approach in response to homelessness.