Homelessness hits another record high on SNP’s watch

Scottish Liberal Democrat housing spokesperson Paul McGarry has called on the SNP Government to urgently step up their response to homelessness, after official figures published today show that there are more households and children in temporary accommodation than ever before.  

New Scottish Government figures show that:

• As at September 2024, there were 16,634 households in temporary accommodation and 10,360 children in temporary accommodation. This is the highest number of households and children in temporary accommodation ever recorded for this time series.
• The average time spent in temporary accommodation increased from 222 days in 2023 to 234 days in 2024.
• There were 7,545 instances of households not being offered temporary accommodation. This is considerably higher than 2,000 in 2023.
• Between April and September 2024, there were 20,823 homelessness applications, an increase from 20,528 in 2023.

Scottish Liberal Democrat housing spokesperson Paul McGarry said:

“With levels of homelessness hitting yet another record high, it makes you wonder what on earth the SNP have been doing for the last 18 years.

“In Scotland, affordable housebuilding has collapsed and the cost-of-living crisis has made rents and mortgages unaffordable for so many. Last year, the SNP made that situation even worse by taking an axe to the housing budget.

“Liberal Democrats are working hard to unpick the damage caused by the SNP. You can see that in the additional money we’ve secured for affordable homes in this year’s budget.

“We need to stop ever-greater numbers of people from being plunged into homelessness. That’s why we will continue to press the government to build more homes, bring thousands of homes back into use and re-establish social rent as a valid, long-term option.”