Minister Faces Sack Call as Homelessness Rises

Last year, over 20,000 people sought homeless aid. This covered just six months, from April to September. Over 10,000 children were in temporary housing. That’s the highest number in 20 years.

The Scottish Government released these figures. Official records showed a problem too: people were not offered temporary places. This happened 7,545 times, a jump from 2,000 in 2023. Glasgow accounted for most cases, at 6,320.

Requests for homeless help rose 1%, reaching 20,823 applications. This is compared to the same six months in 2023.

Mark Griffin, Scottish Labour’s housing spokesperson, spoke about responsibility. He blamed the SNP government, citing that funding cuts hurt affordable housing and councils.

Sean Clerkin, with the Scottish Tenants Organisation, said the Housing Minister must go. He wants an action plan for the housing crisis.

Maeve McGoldrick, who leads policy for Crisis in Scotland, commented on council efforts. She said they help people find homes; however, demand is outpacing their ability. More focus on preventing homelessness is needed.