A record number of people will be homeless this Christmas, new figures have revealed. At least 246 people in Renfrewshire will spend this festive season without a proper home – including 28 children.
The figures were revealed by Renfrewshire Council who said it would do all it could to support the most vulnerable homeless people this Christmas.
The local authority currently has 246 households in temporary accommodation; it says most are single-person occupants. However, 28 kids across 18 households are also still waiting for a permanent home.
Homelessness charity Shelter says that record private rents combined with inadequate housing benefit, rising evictions and a lack of genuinely affordable homes has resulted in homelessness soaring.
Families who become homeless are usually placed in temporary accommodation by their local council with most Scots waiting at least seven-and-a-half months for a permanent address. For those without children, this often means staying in hostels or bed and breakfast accommodation.
But Renfrewshire Council has said it is, on average, finding people a permanent address within 114 days – a wait of around three-and-a-half months.
A spokesperson for the local authority said: “We do everything we can to support people in Renfrewshire in housing need and are committed to minimising the length of time anyone spends in temporary accommodation.
“Like local authorities across Scotland, Renfrewshire is experiencing increasing pressure in demand for social housing.
“And we have taken a number of steps to ensure we are able to continue to support those in housing need by increasing our temporary housing stock, increasing the percentage of social rented housing let to those who are homeless and deploying additional staff across homeless and housing support services.
“The average length of stay in temporary accommodation in Renfrewshire is currently 114 days compared with the national Scottish average of 226 days.”
The spokesperson added: “Staff in our homeless services and housing support teams will be working across the festive period to support those who are staying in temporary accommodation during this time.
“We also have a number of supported accommodation sites where staff are available on a 24/7 basis to assist anyone who may be particularly vulnerable.”
Meanwhile, Shelter is asking the public to donate to its urgent appeal to help it be there for the thousands of people experiencing homelessness this winter.
Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter UK, said: “As the country prepares to wind down and celebrate the festive season in our homes, it’s unimaginable that hundreds of thousands will spend this winter homeless – many of them forced to shiver on the wet streets or in a mouldy hostel room with their entire family.
“Until the government builds the social homes needed to end the housing emergency for good, Shelter will be there for people facing the devastation of homelessness.
“But we cannot do it without the help of the public – your donations allow us to provide emergency help for those facing a night on the streets as well as give vital, expert advice and help to people to keep their homes.”
To donate to Shelter’s Urgent Appeal, visit shelter.org.uk/WinterAppeal
People in housing need in Renfrewshire can contact the council’s emergency support line which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including over the festive break. The number is 0800 121 446.
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