The number of households in temporary accommodation in Scotland at the end of last year was 8,626, an increase of 12 per cent on the pervious year.

The survey is a snapshot of the number of households in temporary accommodation on December 31, having been placed there by local authorities under the Homeless Persons legislation. The same survey showed that the most recent figure for households with children or pregnant women in temporary accommodation was 2,954, an increase of 9 per cent over the previous year.

The Statistics Release Operation of the Homeless Persons legislation in Scotland also reports that during the period April-September 2006, there were 29,973 applications to local authorities under the Homeless Persons legislation. This represents a decrease of 2 per cent compared to previous applications during the same period in 2005.

Also, in 2005-06, 7 per cent of applicants to local authorities under the Homeless Persons legislation reported sleeping rough the night before applying for assistance, a proportion which the report says has been dropping consistently over the past four years, from 10 per cent in 2002-03.

Also in 2005-06, 10 per cent of assessments of homelessness applicants involved households who were threatened with homelessness within two months of applying for assistance, or potentially homeless.

The number of potentially homeless households has remained relatively stable, at around 5,000 households per year since the mid 1980s.

The reasons for homelessness among potentially homeless households are more likely to be because of changes in household circumstances which can be anticipated, such as possible loss of the matrimonial home or loss of a private tenancy. However, nearly two thirds of applicant households assessed as potentially homeless do not go on to become homeless.

Commenting on the figures, Dave Petrie MSP, the Scottish Conservative communities spokesman, said:

“Over the past year, there has been a 12% rise in the number of households in temporary accommodation, and a 123% increase since 1999. This demonstrates that the Lib-Lab Pact is still failing the most vulnerable in our society.

“For many vulnerable people, particularly those suffering from drug or alcohol problems, it is vital that a support system of care is in place, especially to ensure that their children are protected. Housing support services must be improved in order for us to reduce the number of failed tenancies, and prevent households from having to apply more than once.”

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