HOMELESS KIDS SHAME
Numbers soar by a third in a year
The number of children living in homeless accommodation has shot up, leading to calls for immediate action to tackle the crisis.
Newly-released figures have revealed that the number of young people in temporary accommodation in West Lothian has risen by 33 per cent – from 315 in March 2017 to 420 in March 2018.
And on average, children spend 206 days in such accommodation, which is provided by the council and could be in a flat, house, bedsit, hostel or, as a last resort, a bed and breakfast or hotel.
Tory MSP Miles Briggs has called for immediate action, pointing to statistics that say homelessness for children can have a significant negative impact on mental and physical health and educational attainment.
Opposition politicians have, however, been quick to round on the politician, putting the blame for the crisis squarely at the feet of the Tory government at Westminster.
Mr Briggs has written to the minister for housing to ask what actions are being taken to reverse this worrying trend. He said: “This drastic rise of children in temporary accommodation is deeply concerning and a trend that we need to reverse.
“Ultimately, the lack of affordable accommodation will be a big factor in families being stuck in temporary accommodation.
“This situation should never have been allowed to get this bad and urgent action is needed get children out of temporary accommodation into permanent homes.”
Labour MSP Neil Findlay said vulnerable families were suffering thanks to “cuts to council budgets and benefits”
made by the Tories. He continued: “Cuts to council budgets, social security benefits and the appalling impact of Universal Credit upon families, are the main reasons behind the rise in the number of children affected by homelessness and housing insecurity that forces them into temporary accommodation.
“It is completely galling to see Tory politicians who have supported every benefit cut and every austerity measure introduced by David Cameron and Theresa May now crying crocodile tears about the impact of their policies on local children.
“Scottish Labour will continue to argue for an end to cuts to council budgets, a mass council house building programme,
“Regulation of the private rented sector and the scrapping of Universal Credit – these actions would deliver real change for children and families who need access to good quality permanent housing.”
SNP MSP Fiona Hyslop claimed the blame lay with both the Tories in Westminster and local Labour councillors.
She said: “Everyone has the right to a safe, secure and settled home and the SNP in government is making tackling homelessness a priority, backed up with a £50million fund.
“The vast majority of households – 80 per cent – with children or pregnant women are given temporary accommodation in social rented housing.
“Unfortunately, the reality is that Tory welfare cuts are causing major hardship and housing insecurity for many – with £4billion a year being taken from the pockets of low- income families and individuals by the end of the decade and this in turn can create rent arrears.
“And with a Labour- led council in West Lothian who are propped up by the Tories, I’d call on them to contact their Conservative colleagues at Westminster and ensure that more can be done locally to reduce this drastic rise of children in temporary accommodation.”
Fellow SNP MSP Angela Constance said: “The Tories have a cheek to call for action since it is the horrific impact of their own Westminster government’s cuts to the current benefits system and the implementation of Universal Credit that is pushing more families into financial problems.
“These figures show that West Lothian Council is one of the worst in Scotland for providing help, support and accommodation to those who become homeless.
“Meanwhile, the Scottish Government is well on track to achieving its target of delivering 50,000 affordable homes in the lifetime of this Parliament.”
A spokesperson for West Lothian Council said the local authority had experienced an increase in the overall number of people presenting as homeless in 2017/ 18 compared to the previous year, which included an increase in the number of families with children.
The spokesperson added: “As part of its homeless planning process, the council gives priority to families with children with the aim of minimising the impact of homelessness and length of stay in temporary accommodation wherever possible.
“Families will be placed in permanent accommodation as soon as a suitable property becomes available.
“However, length of stay in temporary accommodation can increase as a result of a lack of a permanent solution being available due to the needs of the individual families, which can be dependent on the type, size and location of the accommodation.
“The council have significantly invested to increase housing stock in order to try and alleviate the pressures on temporary accommodation, with 305 houses delivered this calendar year and more to follow as part of its ambitious newbuild affordable housing programme.
“We’ re currently in the process of preparing the five-year Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan to be submitted to the Scottish Government by December 31 outlining West Lothian’s actions to reduce homelessness.”