4000 children will not have a permanent roof over their head this Christmas

“Shelter’s warning that up to 4000 children will be homeless this Christmas should shock the Scottish Government into action.

“Scotland is experiencing a housing crisis with 150,505 families and individuals stuck on housing waiting lists. The SNP must act. We welcome Shelter’s call for the Scottish Government to build a minimum of 10,000 social houses a year to begin the fight back against homelessness. Last year the government built only 4403 new social houses -; a number which has fallen every year since 2009.

Commenting on the announcement by Shelter Scotland that 4000 Scottish children will be without permanent accommodation this Christmas local MSP Jackie Baillie, said: 

“Whilst we recognise the limited improvements that have been made in finding permanent homes for children in temporary accommodation, much more needs to be done. The Scottish Government’s continued cuts and financial pressures on local authority budgets are making a difficult situation a desperate one.

“Nicola Sturgeon must act now to ensure that as many children are found a permanent home before Christmas, and implement a strategy which makes the challenges of homeless Scots an absolute priority for this Governm