Worst ever homelessness figures on the SNP’s watch

Scottish Liberal Democrat housing spokesperson Paul McGarry has today called on the SNP government to urgently combat homelessness across the country, after official figures published today show that the numbers of people experiencing homelessness and living in temporary accommodation have reached new highs on the SNP’s watch.

Figures show that in 2023-24:

• 10,110 children were in temporary accommodation- the highest number since records began. This is almost double the number in 2007 (5,455) when the SNP came to power;
• 40,685 homeless applications were recorded- the highest number since 2011-12;
• As at 31st March 2024, there were 31,870 open homeless applications and 16,330 households in temporary accommodation. Both figures are the highest on record.

According to new housebuilding figures, housing completions (-4,003;-17%) and starts (-3,032;-17%) were down in the year to the end of June 2024 compared to the previous year.

Scottish Liberal Democrat housing spokesperson Paul McGarry said: 

“For yet another year, levels of homelessness have soared to new highs. It makes you wonder what on earth the SNP have been doing for the last 17 years.

“In Scotland, affordable housebuilding has collapsed and the cost-of-living crisis has made rents and mortgages extremely difficult for many to afford. The SNP have taken an axe to the housing budget and failed to build the thousands of homes promised for social rent.

“Ensuring that everyone has a place to call home is a basic responsibility of any government. That’s why Scottish Liberal Democrats would build more homes, bring thousands of empty homes back into use and re-establish social rent as a valid, long-term option. If the SNP do not listen to these calls, we could see ever greater numbers of people plunged into homelessness.”

Additional Information

Full report can be found here

You can find the most recent quarterly housebuilding and housing supply statistics here

A table with the full figures since 2022 can be found here. Children in temporary accommodation figures can be found in T28.

To tackle homelessness, Scottish Liberal Democrats are calling on the Scottish Government to:

• Take forward the Housing First and Rapid Rehousing principles to end rough sleeping and homelessness, by providing both housing and other support services to individuals in need;
• Address the additional challenges for young homeless people with special pathways to link suitable jobs and training to housing;
• Bring forward new legislation which would strengthen the duties on public bodies to prevent homelessness;
• Offer help to renovate loans to bring derelict homes back into use;

Increase the number of homes constructed for social rent and re-establish social renting as a valid, long-term option for people.