Scotland's housing crisis has reached alarming levels, with official figures revealing a record number of homeless individuals residing in temporary accommodation. As of March 2024, 16,330 households were without permanent homes, marking a 9% increase from the previous year. This crisis has significantly impacted children, with 10,110 minors now in temporary housing—the highest figure ever recorded.
The situation has been exacerbated by a sharp decline in housebuilding rates. In the year leading up to June 2024, new home starts and completions plummeted by 17%, with social housing construction for lower-income families dropping by a quarter. This decline has brought housebuilding to its lowest level since 2013, excluding the pandemic period.
Miles Briggs, the Scottish Conservative shadow housing secretary, described the figures as "scandalous" and a "source of shame" for the Scottish National Party (SNP) government. The criticism comes as the SNP-led administration, along with 12 local councils, declared a "housing emergency" in Scotland.
The crisis is multifaceted, rooted in complex historical and policy factors. Scotland, with its population of approximately 5.5 million, has long been a leader in homelessness rights. The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 extended the right to housing to all homeless individuals, and in 2012, Scotland abolished the "priority need" test for homelessness applications. However, these progressive policies have been challenged by recent developments.
In 2023, the SNP government cut the affordable housing budget by £196 million, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties and housing associations. Mark Griffin, Scottish Labour's housing spokesman, accused the SNP of "fanning the flames" of the housing emergency through budget cuts and allowing housebuilding to plummet.
The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations has highlighted the "devastating consequences" of the collapse in housebuilding. This comes despite the Scottish Government's previous target to build 50,000 affordable homes between 2016 and 2021, and its commitment to ending homelessness through the "Ending Homelessness Together" action plan.
The crisis is further complicated by Scotland's unique housing landscape. The country has a higher proportion of social housing compared to other parts of the UK and has implemented progressive policies such as the Private Residential Tenancy system in 2017, which provides more security for tenants. However, these measures have not been sufficient to stem the rising tide of homelessness.
Recent data shows 40,685 homelessness applications were made in 2023-24, the highest total since 2011-12. Rough sleeping has also increased, with 1,916 households reporting sleeping on the streets the night before making a homelessness application—up from 1,493 the previous year.
Paul McLennan, the SNP's housing minister, acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stating, "These figures are deeply concerning and I know the lack of a settled home seriously affects people's health and life chances." He expressed determination to work with partners to reverse this trend.
As Scotland grapples with this housing emergency, it faces additional challenges, including addressing fuel poverty and meeting ambitious targets for net-zero emissions in housing by 2045. The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership is working to bring vacant properties back into use, while the "Everyone Home Collective" strategy aims to tackle rough sleeping.
The current crisis underscores the need for immediate and effective action to address Scotland's housing shortage and support its most vulnerable residents. As the situation unfolds, the eyes of the nation remain fixed on the government's response to this pressing issue.
"These figures are deeply concerning and I know the lack of a settled home seriously affects people's health and life chances."