The Scottish Government has been accused by the Scottish Greens of failing to tackle the housing crisis after new figures revealed a rise in the number of children placed into temporary accommodation.

New statistics on homelessness in Scotland reveals the number of children in temporary accommodation increased by 557 children to 6,615, a 9% rise than compared to one year ago.

As of 31 March 2018, there were 10,933 households in temporary accommodation, a rise of 60 households since last year, with 3,349 of those having children; an increase of 118 households compared with one year earlier and the fourth consecutive annual increase.


Scottish Greens housing spokesperson, Andy Wightman, said the "disappointing" figures "show the Scottish Government is failing to tackle Scotland's housing crisis".

"It's simply not the priority it should be, and as result we have more families and more children in temporary accommodation, causing distress that will affect them throughout their lives," he said.

"Housing a basic human right and Scottish Ministers are far too cautious when it comes to taking radical action. We need to see bold measures that reduce the cost of land for councils to build the homes that are needed in our communities and we need strong action to stop the scourge of short-term lets and second homes depriving our city centres and rural towns and villages of badly-needed long-term homes.

"It speaks volumes that when pressed on the issue, the Housing Minister doesn't even know that his own manifesto committed to building - not delivering - 50,000 new affordable homes. Behind the latest homelessness statistics are real lives in need of help and Scottish Ministers' steady-as-we-go approach will simply not do," Mr Wightman concluded.

(LM)