Tuesday’s grim new statistics on homelessness in Scotland came as little surprise to anybody working in the housing sector: the housing emergency shows no signs of easing. Indeed it is becoming entrenched and enduring.
The new figures told us that homelessness and rough sleeping are on the rise, as well as there being more households and children living in temporary accommodation compared to last year, and in some cases since records began. Coupled with this, the housebuilding statistics also showed a slowdown in completions of all homes, and especially social homes which are so critically needed.
Housing is one of the biggest areas of advice that the Citizens Advice network provides: last year, we gave out more than 58,000 pieces of advice on housing, a 10% rise compared to the year before. We also saw an increase in the amount of homelessness advice provided over the last year, including many cases where people were turned away from services as there was no temporary accommodation available. This is one of the most stark indicators of failure: that we cannot provide a roof over someone’s head in an emergency, and people’s rights are being denied to them. People like Simon (name has been changed) who approached his local CAB as he was living in his car. His local council told him they did not have any temporary accommodation to offer, and nor did neighbouring councils when Simon contacted them.
Across Scotland, councils are operating under very difficult circumstances with very little resources. Like everyone else, they’re facing new challenges, new costs and a new post-Covid landscape.
More people need social, affordable homes for rent because they’re priced out of home ownership and private rents, or are constrained by social security that doesn’t meet the actual cost of living. More of the same responses won’t work. We welcome new acquisition funds for councils to buy more homes but much more bold and urgent action is needed.
We need a re-invigorated social house-building agenda, and better support for people to access and stay in their homes. To deliver this, we need to look at different forms of finance. A national housing agency could enable us to take a wider view of things and be tasked with delivering the homes that are needed. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: there has to be an emergency response to an emergency situation. The emergency will not end without it.
There is some concern that the Housing Bill that’s currently going through Parliament will detract from the housing emergency. Our view is that we can do both: Scotland should have a fairer and more secure rented sector, and crucially better prevention against homelessness at an earlier stage.
What will happen if we don’t act? More people will be turned away from over-stretched services, with little option but to sleep rough. More children will have their lives, health and education disrupted by homelessness. We cannot accept this. Sometimes when we look at statistics, it’s easy to forget that behind every number is a real person or family. Homes are the foundation of people’s lives and in a just and compassionate Scotland, everyone should have access to a safe, warm and affordable home.
Aoife Deery is housing spokesperson for Citizens Advice Scotland
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