Hundreds of children in Scotland are effectively growing up homeless after spending years in accommodation meant to be temporary, according to official figures analysed by Scottish Labour.
The data shows that 1,350 families have been stuck in often unsuitable properties for more than two years, including 770 who have been there for more than three years.
Housing shortage and council pressures
People who become homeless in Scotland must present themselves to their local authority before they can be allocated social housing. However, a chronic shortage of affordable homes, particularly in the biggest cities, means cash-strapped councils often resort to paying hotel, B&B and private landlord owners to house vulnerable families.
Several local authorities have declared housing emergencies in recent years, publicly acknowledging they cannot meet their legal obligation to provide housing to all who need it. The situation has deteriorated in many places since then.
National emergency and rising numbers
The SNP Government declared a national housing emergency in May 2024, but the number of children living in temporary accommodation has since increased. The average stay for a couple with children is now 655 days.
Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra said: "Hundreds of kids in Scotland are spending years of their childhood in the uncertainty and instability of temporary accommodation.
"Multiple birthdays, Christmases and school years have passed for these children without getting a stable home. They are effectively growing up homeless.
"When the SNP government declared a housing emergency, those suffering the most acute consequences of the crisis might have hope that action would follow. Instead, two years later, hundreds of those same families are still stuck in limbo.
"We know that if we take action we can halve homelessness in Scotland in only two years. Politicians owe it to these kids to get round the table, roll the sleeves up and agree the measures to make that happen."
Government response and investment
Housing Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: "Temporary accommodation is an important safety net, providing roofs over families’ heads when they need them. In the vast majority of cases, this is council homes and flats where people can live until they move into a permanent home.
"We are determined to reduce the time families spend in temporary accommodation. That is why we are investing a record up to £4.9 billion over the next four years to provide 36,000 affordable homes. This funding will also help councils purchase properties and move more households from temporary into settled, permanent accommodation.
"We are also taking action to help people stay in their homes, including fully mitigating the UK Government’s bedroom tax and investing up to £9 million to support families with children affected by the freeze in Local Housing Allowance. We continue to urge the UK Government to unfreeze rates and lift thousands of children out of poverty."
