Karen Hay, 49, is moving into an accessible home at the St Andrew’s development with 10-year-old daughter Zoe, who has Cerebral Palsy and uses a wheelchair. Karen is pictured here with Cllrs Iain Dickson and Diane Docherty.
By Lucy Ashton
West Dunbartonshire Council has welcomed its 200th tenant into its new homes across the area.
Karen Hay, 49, is moving into an accessible home at the St Andrew’s development with 10-year-old daughter Zoe, who has Cerebral Palsy and uses a wheelchair.
Karen says the new ground floor flat, which has a range of features to make it fully accessible, will mean far more freedom for Zoe, and allow the Linnvale Primary pupil to have some independence.
She said: “Our current home is over two levels, so we have to navigate stairs when Zoe wants to go to bed, and our bathroom is downstairs.
“This new home will change things entirely, because it has so many features that will make life easier for both of us. The doorways are wider so her wheelchair can fit into every room, the bathroom has a wet room so she can shower herself instead of relying on me lifting her into the bath, the light switches are lower and plug sockets higher to make it easier for her, and the sink and hob can move up and down to the required height.
“It may seem like small things to anyone else, but it means such a lot to us. It will give her a freedom and independence she has never been able to have before. She is actually most excited to get in because she can start washing the dishes. We really can’t wait.”
Karen received keys to her new home last week and is planning to move in in this month.
To celebrate reaching the milestone of 200 tenants, Housing and Communities Convener Councillor Diane Docherty, pictured right, and Vice Convener Councillor Ian Dickson visited Karen at her home last week.
Councillor Docherty said: “This is an important milestone as we welcome our 200th tenant. I am pleased to have had the chance to meet with Karen and hear how this home will improve things for herself and her daughter.
“The homes we are building all over West Dunbartonshire are not only stylish but they are practical, affordable, energy efficient and a number of them with full accessibility.
“Our tenants are at the heart of everything we do, and it is fantastic to see them enjoying their new surroundings.”
The site, delivered by the Council’s building partner CCG, has been transformed into a mix of properties from one bedroom flats to five-bedroom houses.
It is the biggest site developed by the Council in recent years, and goes towards achieving the ambitious targets for introducing new homes in the area.
Other tenants have settled into homes throughout West Dunbartonshire including in Haldane, Dumbarton and Creveul Court, Alexandria.
Further homes are planned over the coming years for 90 homes across sites in Pappert, Lilac Avenue and Bank Street.
Councillor Dickson said: “Over the last few years we have been working towards our ambitious More Homes Better Homes commitment to increase our housing stock and have introduced a great number of new homes. I am extremely proud of the progress that has been made so far and of our plans to continue that housing growth throughout West Dunbartonshire.
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to welcome Karen and Zoe, and all our other new tenants, to their new homes. I wish them many years of happiness in the future.”
This comes as Scottish Government figures published today highlight the fact that West Dunbartonshire had the highest rate of households assessed as homeless with 11.9 households per 100,000 population. This is almost double the Scotland-wide average for households assessed as homeless in 2020-21, which stands at 6 households per 100,000.
These figures also showed that Scotland as a whole is in the midst of a housing crisis with statistics showing that in 2020/21 the number of households in temporary accommodation reached its highest point for any year since records began in 2002.
Jackie Baillie MSP said: “The fact that West Dunbartonshire has the highest rate of households assessed as homeless in the whole of Scotland points to the need for urgent action at the highest level.
“We are all aware of the awful impact that COVID-19 has had on household finances and individuals’ ability to pay rent and bills. As restrictions begin to ease, so too do the measures that have been put in place to protect families from homelessness.
“The SNP’s refusal to extend the evictions ban to those experiencing all levels of restrictions has created a ticking time bomb of homelessness in our local area and across Scotland.
“The Scottish Government and West Dunbartonshire Council must work together urgently to tackle both the problem of homelessness in our community as well as addressing the causes of homelessness – many of which are completely outwith peoples’ control – so that we see a decrease in local figures, rather than a further increase.”
Homelessness Statistics 2020-21
A National Statistics Publication for Scotland.
Annual update on Homelessness Statistics covering 2020/21 have been released by Scotland’s Chief Statistician.
Findings for that period show:
- There were 33,792 applications for homelessness assistance – a decrease of 3,251 (9%) compared with 2019/20
- There were 27,571 households assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness – a decrease of 4,010 (13%) compared to 2019/20
- While the number of applications fell, there was also a reduction in the number of cases closed. As a result, the number of open homelessness cases at 31 March 2021 reached 25,226, a 10% increase compared to 31 March 2020. This peaked at 27,058 as at 30 September 2020
- There were 13,097 households in temporary accommodation at 31 March 2021 – a 12% increase compared to 11,665 at 31 March 2020. This reached a peak of 14,151 at 30 September 2020
- The most common reasons for making an application were ‘Asked to leave’ (27% vs 24% the previous year), ‘Dispute within the household / relationship: non-violent (22% vs 19% the previous year) and ‘Dispute within the household: violent or abusive’ (14% vs 13% the previous year)
- There was a notable decrease in households becoming homeless from a private rented tenancy – a drop of 2,161 (42%) from 5,145 to 2,984. 11% of households assessed as homeless in this period gave this as their previous accommodation type, compared to 16% in the same period in 2020. This may be due to a reduction in the number of evictions due to emergency coronavirus legislation temporarily extending eviction notice periods
- There was a 44% reduction in households assessed as homeless in Edinburgh in 2020/21 compared to 2019/20, from 3,402 to 1,912. This was largely due to a 67% reduction from a private rented tenancy (264 in 2020/21 compared to 802 in 2019/20) compared to 42% nationally. In addition, Edinburgh also experienced a decrease of those becoming homeless from either ‘parental / family home / relatives’ or ‘friends / partners’ of 35% (from 1,532 to 1,002) compared to a national increase of 7%
- Homelessness applications that closed in 2020/21 that used temporary accommodation spent 199 days in temporary accommodation on average. This increased from 187 days the previous year
- There were 605 cases of households not being offered temporary accommodation in 2020/21 – a fall of 87% (from 4,590) compared to last year. 525 of these were in Edinburgh
- 80% of homeless households (18,313 out of 22,967) secured settled accommodation in 2020/21, increasing from 64% in 2002/03, and a drop from 83% last year
- It took 248 days on average from assessment to closure in 2020/21 for cases assessed as homeless – an increase from 225 in 2019/20
- 58% of main applicants were male; 62% were aged 25-49; 70% were single person households; and 87% were of White ethnicity