SNP Government told to reverse cuts to housing budget or risk more families being left homeless

SNP Warned to Reverse Housing Budget Cuts to Prevent Increase in Homelessness

The SNP Government has been urged to overturn cuts to its affordable housing budget to avoid a surge in the number of families living in temporary accommodation across Scotland. Shelter, a prominent charity dedicated to ending homelessness, highlighted that it is young people who are bearing the brunt of the housing crisis due to the failure of politicians to address the issue effectively.

Shona Robison, the Finance Secretary, is set to reveal Holyrood’s draft spending plans for the upcoming year on December 4. The Government faced significant criticism from anti-poverty campaigners, charities, and opposition parties after slashing £196 million from housing expenditure in the last Budget round. This reduction comes at a time when many regions are grappling with a severe lack of affordable housing, with 13 local authorities declaring housing emergencies in the past year.

Recently, East Lothian council joined the list of local authorities declaring a housing emergency, a move that shed light on the urgency of the situation, especially as it includes the constituency of Paul McLennan, the Housing Minister. Alison Watson, the director of Shelter Scotland, emphasised the importance of SNP ministers listening to the pleas of councils seeking assistance.

The alarming statistics reveal that more than 10,000 children in Scotland are currently residing in temporary accommodation, marking a record high and a doubling of the figure from a decade ago. The rising number of households living in temporary accommodation, which reached 16,330 in a year, underscores the pressing need for action. Additionally, the figures show an increase in the number of individuals sleeping rough before seeking help.

As new homes built for social rent have decreased by 25%, the housing crisis in Scotland continues to worsen. The Scottish Government’s response to these concerning developments remains to be seen as pressure mounts for urgent intervention to prevent further escalation of homelessness.

In summary, the urgent call to reverse cuts to the housing budget by the SNP Government is crucial to address the escalating housing crisis in Scotland, particularly impacting vulnerable children and families. With statistics painting a grim picture of increasing homelessness and a shortage of affordable accommodation, swift and decisive action is imperative to protect those most at risk and ensure a sustainable solution to the housing emergency.