By Mary Fleming
The SNP have been accused of allowing Scotland to become engulfed by a housing crisis with a significant impact in West Dunbartonshire.
MSP Jackie Baillie blasted the Scottish Government after new data revealed record increases in homelessness.
Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie
At 235 households, West Dunbartonshire is well above the Scottish average of 133 homeless households per 10,000.
Even areas including Glasgow City, Clackmannanshire and Dundee City, recorded a lower homelessness toll than West Dunbartonshire.
Data reveals that there were 264 households in temporary accommodation in West Dunbartonshire at March 31st, 2024.
A total of 76 children were amongst those.
The report also reveals 31,870 open homelessness cases in Scotland at March 31st – a record high and an increase of 8 per cent on the previous year.
In total, 40,685 homelessness applications were recorded in 2023-24.
There are now a record 10,110 children stuck in temporary accommodation, with this figure rising by 5 per cent on the previous year.
The number of people placed in unsuitable temporary accommodation has soared, with breaches of the Unsuitable Accommodation Order rising by a staggering 41 per cent.
Dumbarton constituency MSP, Jackie Baillie, said: “These shameful figures are a damning indictment of the SNP’s record in government.
“Councils, including West Dunbartonshire, were clear about the housing emergency they found themselves in before the Scottish Government made their own declaration.
“The problem is that the SNP government have no plan to tackle the issue and have also backtracked on cash committed to the Affordable Housing Supply Programme, to build more socially-rented homes.
“No amount of deflection can mask the fact that they let homelessness soar and left over 10,000 kids without a permanent home.
“Scots cannot keep paying the price for the SNP’s catastrophic failures.
“We need urgent action to tackle this crisis and make sure residents of West Dunbartonshire have a safe and secure home to call their own and plans are in place to boost housebuilding.”
- There were 40,685 homelessness applications recorded in 2023-24. This is an increase of 4% compared to 2022-23 (39,308)
- There were 31,423 homelessness cases closed in 2023-24. This is an increase of 9% compared to 2022-23 (28,772)
- There was a total of 31,870 open homelessness cases at 31 March 2024; an increase of 8% compared to 2023 (29,408)
- The number of children in temporary accommodation increased by 5% compared to last year to 10,110 in 2024
- The number of households reporting rough sleeping the night before application has increased from 1,493 to 1,916 and in the three months prior from 2,425 to 2,931
- Average time from assessment to case closure has increased greatly over time from 226 days in 2019-20 to 278 days in 2023-24
- The number of temporary accommodation placements that have been in breach of the Unsuitable Accommodation Order reached 7,400 in 2023-24. This is an increase of 41%, or 2,160 on the previous year.
Labour leader Anas Sarwar has called on SNP Housing Minister Paul McLennan to resign.
Meanwhile, following First Minister’s Questions in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “Figures published this week have revealed the extent of the homelessness crisis in Scotland.
“On this SNP government’s watch 40,685 homelessness applications were recorded last year – that is the highest in a decade.
“As of March 31, this year, there were almost 32,000 live homelessness applications.
“Every number is a human being in desperate need of help and support.
“But this SNP government is failing them.
“In face of this homelessness crisis this parliament shamed the government into declaring a housing emergency earlier this year.
“But despite that, the Housing Minister Paul McLennan, insists this government has a ‘good track record’ on tackling homelessness.
“Under this SNP government we have the lowest levels of home building by Housing Associations since Thatcher.
“Overall house building is down by 17 per cent. And the affordable home building target is in tatters.
“And we now shamefully have record levels of children in temporary accommodation – without a home to call their own. That is over 10,000 children left homeless on this government’s watch.
“And the number of young people living in B&Bs has soared in only three years by over 900%.
“This is the devastating consequences of what John Swinney has himself admitted was a government too focused on what they can’t do, than what they can do.
“Scots left to pay the price for an SNP that has lost its way, is incompetent in government and that is bad with people’s money.
“Housing in Scotland is completely the responsibility of this SNP government. After 17 years, when will they take responsibility, rather than always look for someone else to blame.
“For the Housing Minister to claim they have a ‘proven track record’ on tackling homelessness, when it is at record levels, is not just inept, it is shameful.
“Paul McLennan simply cannot continue.
“The First Minister has a choice: put up with more failure or get to grips with the housing emergency, sack this Housing Minister and change direction.”
Homelessness in Scotland:
- 40,685 homelessness applications were recorded last year. The highest for a decade (since 2011-12).
- As of March 31 2024 there were almost 32,000 live homelessness applications (31,870).
- 10,110 children in temporary accommodation as at 31 March 2024 – the highest in the time series
- The number of children housed in temporary accommodation in a B&Bs in Scotland has increased from 30 at March 2021 to 310 in March 2024 – increase of 933
- https://www.gov.scot/publications/homelessness-in-scotland-2023-24/documents/
Housebuilding in Scotland:
- All sector starts down 17%:
- 15,296 compared to 18,328
- https://www.gov.scot/publications/quarterly-housing-statistics-march-2024/
The lowest levels of home building by Housing Associations since Thatcher:
- HA starts in 2023 were the lowest level since 1988. (Data to 2023)
- Social housing starts/approvals (LA and HA) are the lowest since the Conservatives were last in power (1996 which is far back as public records are available 2024 data and archived data)
- https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/money/12359182/snp-government-social-housing-decline-thatcher/
The affordable home building target to build 110,000 affordable homes by 2032
- Internal Scottish Government briefing confirms the targets is under threat in 2023: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/110000-affordable-homes-pledge-under-threat-briefing-confirms
- In 2024 the Scottish Government confirm they have not estimated the number of homes that will be built in the future: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/scottish-government-has-not-calculated-future-new-homes-estimates)
- The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations stated that the Scottish Governments target was “all but over”: https://www.sfha.co.uk/news/news-category/sfha-news/news-article/political-turmoil-threatens-response-to-housing-emergency)
Paul McLennan – the Scottish Government has a “good track record” on homelessness: