Numbers living in temporary and unsuitable housing in Scotland up

The number of homeless households in temporary accommodation in Scotland rose 8 per cent in 2005-6, according to Scottish executive figures published today.

More than 8,000 applicant households, including 2,800 with children or pregnant women, were in temporary accommodation at 31 March 2006, the figures reveal.

Also, councils reported that 55 households were in unsuitable accommodation, compared with 32 on 31 December 2005.

The executive said the increase had been driven by a rise in applications and duties placed on councils since September 2002 to provide a minimum of temporary accommodation and assistance to all households assessed as homeless. Before that they only had a duty to accommodate those assessed as in priority need.

Homelessness applications in Scotland also rose in 2005-6, by 4 per cent to almost 60,000.

However, the increase was largely attributed to a change in recording practices at four councils – West Dunbartonshire, Dundee, Scottish Borders and Aberdeen City. All of these reported increases of more than 20 per cent.