There can be few more shocking indictments of Scotland’s housing crisis than victims of domestic abuse being forced to live in the their attacker’s home as they cannot find an alternative place to stay. Campaigners have today warned a growing number of mothers are choosing to stay in abusive households because there is nowhere for them to go with their kids.
It comes at a time several councils, including Edinburgh and Glasgow, have declared housing emergencies as they don’t have enough affordable accommodation to meet demand. With precious little council housing on offer in many places, the cost of renting privately has soared in the years since the Covid pandemic.
The situation has already led to an explosion in the number of people declaring themselves homeless. Tragically, more and more people are now rough sleeping in our biggest cities. Affordable housing in all forms is in short supply. But the situation is made doubly hard for those with children.
Recent figures found that 108 families in Glasgow were living in B&Bs or hotels, the use of which is strictly limited by law. Such accommodation is often of dismal quality and totally unsuitable for families stuck there for weeks on end.
Campaigners have warned that temporary accommodation being offered to women is so dangerous and unsuitable that they would rather sleep on the street or seek a mattress at a night shelter. Scotland must build more affordable accommodation, and fast. This tragic situation cannot be allowed to get any worse.
Labour challenge
Anas Sarwar deserves credit for repeatedly standing up for Scotland’s struggling public services. The Scottish Labour leader has built his reputation on questioning failings in our NHS and schools and asking what is being done to fix them. After almost two decades in power, the SNP Government has, at times, looked complacent when it comes to tackling the big issues.
The Nationalists have been helped by a weak and divided opposition at the Scottish Parliament. Sarwar has rejuvenated Labour and positioned it as the only realistic alternative to the SNP. But its performance at next year’s Holyrood election will be heavily influnced by Scots’ perceptions of the UK Government.
And for many Keir Starmer still has to demonstrate he can make people’s lives better. On energy bills, for example, many are struggling to see any improvement in their already soaring household costs. Labour at Westminster must make a difference on these bread-and-butter issues – or Sarwar will suffer the consequences at Holyrood.
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