WIREDGOV

The number of people assessed as homeless has fallen by four per cent since the same period as last year, official statistics published today show.

There were 8,800 homeless applications made between July and September 2015, and 7,400 cases were assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness.

The figures also show that while there has been a rise in the number of families in temporary accommodation, the number of families in unsuitable temporary accommodation like bed and breakfast has fallen, and the number moving into settled accommodation has been maintained.

Housing Minister Margaret Burgess has, today, written to the local authorities where there has been a rise in the use of families in temporary accommodation. The Scottish Government wrote to local authorities late last year on the use of B&B accommodation for households containing children and pregnant women. All local authorities are seeking to minimise the use of B&Bs.

Mrs Burgess said:

“We are doing everything we can to make sure everyone has access to a warm and safe place to stay, and I welcome the decrease in the number of households being assessed as homeless. We have ensured the majority of temporary accommodation is good quality, well managed social housing which is of the same standard as permanent accommodation.

“However we want to understand the reason why there has been a rise in the use of temporary accommodation for households with children, and I have written to local authorities on this basis. We are committed to working together with local authorities and partners in the best interests of all households looking for permanent accommodation.

“We have taken action to address housing need by exceeding our housing target of building 30,000 affordable homes within the current parliamentary term, started a new generation of council house building and by stopping the right to buy are protecting our social housing stock. In addition we have committed to deliver 50,000 more affordable homes over the next five years, 35,000 of which will be for social rent.”