New figures reveal more than 200 Stirling kids living in temporary homes

The Scottish Government data highlighted the state of homelessness across the country.

More than 200 children in Stirling are living in temporary accommodation as new stark figures laid bare the scale of homelessness.

The latest data released by the Scottish Government has thrown light on the picture of those living on the streets and in unstable arrangements for the period from April 1 last year to March 31 this year.

The Scottish Government figures reveal that 603 applications for homelessness were received in Stirling during that 12 month period, a small rise of 17 from last year.

Out of that total, 443 applications were assessed as homeless or being at risk of homelessness with that figure again representing a small hike on the same figure for 2022-23.

In Stirling, 341 households were living in temporary accommodation up to the end of March - although this actually represented a drop on the total in the last three years.

Within that figure, 210 children have been assessed as living within temporary accommodation for the same period.

When compared to the rest of the country, Stirling’s rate of homeless households per 100,000 of population falls behind the national average of 133.

However, the issue of temporary accommodation continues to be an issue locally, with Stirling reporting the sixth-highest total of all of Scotland’s council areas for the ratio of households living in unstable circumstances per 100,000.

Meanwhile, it was reported that the average time spent in temporary accommodation in Stirling was just under a year - at 316 days.

Shelter Scotland director, Alison Watson, said: “These figures show clearly that it is children in Scotland that are paying the highest price for politicians’ failure to get a grip on the housing emergency; they should be a source of great national shame.

“Once again Scotland has broken unwelcome records, and the sad fact is that’s becoming the norm whenever these statistics are published.

“[The figures are] a grim reminder of the reality of Scotland’s housing emergency; more and more children losing their homes every day, getting stuck in the homelessness system, trapped in miserable temporary accommodation for ever increasing lengths of time.

“Every level of government has played a part in allowing the housing emergency to get to this disgraceful point, so politicians at every level of government have a more duty to act.”

Stirling MSP Evelyn Tweed said: “I’m pleased to see a reduction in homelessness in Stirling, especially coming into the colder months.

“The number of people in temporary accommodation is of course a cause for concern. Longer term work is required to address the reliance on temporary accommodation, and to ensure affordable housing is available to all.

“Scottish councils are facing serious housing pressures right now – which is why the SNP in government is making it a focus to deliver more homes whilst also tackling the causes of homelessness.

“We will continue to support the council to tackle this crisis, such as making a record funding of more than £14bn available to councils in 2024-25 to deliver services such as homelessness services.

“I am hopeful that in spite of the very challenging financial context we face, Scotland will continue to make steady progress towards ending homelessness.”

A Stirling Council spokesperson said: “We remain committed to preventing homelessness and reducing the need for, and time spent living in temporary accommodation.

“In the last year, there has been a significant decrease of live homeless cases in Stirling, and a continued reduction in households living in temporary accommodation. This trend compares favourably to the national picture.

“The council and local housing association partners have built or acquired over 600 additional affordable homes across Stirling since 2018, with more new affordable homes now under construction on sites in Cambusbarron, Croftamie, Killearn, Plean, Raploch and Whins of Milton.”

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