Homelessness Statistics

Written by Kirsten Walker Tuesday, 02 October 2012 14:38

Commenting  on the latest homelessness statistics   released today (Tuesday 2^nd October) by the Scottish Government, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) said that while it welcomed the latest statistics, the forthcoming changes to the welfare system still threaten tenants' abilities to sustain their tenancies.

The figures show a 13 per cent fall in homelessness applications in the quarter to June 2012, compared to the same period in 2011. Households in temporary accommodation fell by 6 per cent and households with children in temporary accommodation dropped by 11 per cent.

Andy Young, Policy and Membership Manager at the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, said:

"The SFHA is pleased to see that the homelessness prevention policies and initiatives put in place by our members over recent years are beginning to bear fruit. Scotland's housing associations and co-operatives will continue to work with their partners in local government and the third sector to ensure that tenancies are sustained wherever possible, through the Housing Options Hubs and other initiatives. However, the spectre of impending welfare reform still casts a long shadow over tenants' abilities to sustain their tenancies going forward."

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NOTES:

1. The Scottish Government's latest housing statistics are available here: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/06/9193
2. The SFHA was established in 1976 and has around 170 members providing affordable housing and wider community services in Scotland, as well as a further 200 commercial members. The SFHA is owned by its membership and exists to support the work of housing associations and co-operatives in Scotland by providing services, advice and good practice guidance.
3. The SFHA is the voice of the principal builders and managers of new affordable housing for rent in Scotland. Housing Associations own and manage around 40% of the country's affordable rented housing stock, over a quarter of a million homes across Scotland.
4. Housing associations and co-operatives are not-for-profit bodies regulated by the Scottish Housing Regulator.