JACKIE BAILLIE URGES GOVERNMENT TO CLOSE AWAAB’S LAW LOOPHOLE
Jackie Baillie MSP has backed calls for Awaab’s Law protections to be extended to all forms of temporary accommodation, as new figures reveal that 70 children are living in temporary accommodation in Argyll and Bute, which includes Cardross, Helensburgh, Lomond and the Peninsula.
Across Scotland, the number of children living in temporary accommodation has risen by 22 per cent since 2022, increasing from 8,805 to 10,715.
In Argyll and Bute, the number of children living in temporary accommodation has risen by 56 per cent since 2022, increasing from 45 to 70. Over the last year alone, the number has increased from 60 to 70.
Scottish Labour’s Shadow Housing Secretary, Mark Griffin MSP, has written to the Scottish Government calling for legal protections against serious hazards, including damp and mould, to cover all forms of temporary accommodation.
Jackie Baillie MSP said: “Every child deserves a safe and secure place to call home, and it is deeply concerning that the number of children living in temporary accommodation in Argyll and Bute has risen by more than half since 2022.
“With 70 children now living in temporary accommodation across Argyll and Bute, these figures show just how important it is that families can access safe and secure housing.
“The long-term answer is ensuring families can access a secure permanent home, but while children remain in temporary accommodation, they should never be exposed to conditions that threaten their health.
“Children who are homeless are often already facing uncertainty and trauma. It’s simply not right that some of the most vulnerable children in our communities have weaker protections from damp and mould because they happen to be living in temporary accommodation.
“That’s why the Government should close this loophole and ensure Awaab’s Law applies to all temporary accommodation.”