Rural Councils Hit By Rise In Homelessness

Homelessness in parts of rural Scotland is increasing while targets to help eradicate the problem is leaving council housing officials struggling to meet demand for accommodation.

{mosimage}In Argyll and Bute, where almost 1000 people have applied as homeless, the number of households in temporary accommodation has risen by 25% in a year.

More than 200 households are in council-managed temporary accommodation, and in Oban families can wait two years before a permanent home becomes available.

Local authorities, which have been charged with reducing non-priority cases by 50% before 2009, say the policy is creating extra workload for councils as more people need to be found somewhere to live.

In a report to councillors, Malcolm MacFadyen, head of community regeneration at Argyll and Bute Council, said: “The number of households which the council will have a statutory duty to accommodate in temporary accommodation is likely to increase over the next five years as the move to eradicate priority need is implemented.

“Currently, the number of households being accommodated for longer periods of time is showing an upward trend as are the associated costs.

“The requirement to increasingly determine more households in priority need is likely to seriously exacerbate the problem.”

Argyll and Bute Council have completed a review of homelessness in their area, which includes Helensburgh and Oban and large rural areas.

The authority has looked at how many affordable homes are needed and how many can be built and concluded that the budget allocated for homelessness projects will not provide enough new homes to meet the demand in the area.

A five-year investment plan has allocated £97.3m for the area which could deliver 1700 homes for rent or low cost.

A housing-needs assessment initially stated the area needs 450 homes a year, but was revised following the homeless guidelines to 800 a year. However, the council has noted that with limited land supply, infrastructure constraints and high development costs, new build will not meet the need.

Archie Stoddart, director of Shelter Scotland, said: “The lack of affordable housing is not just a problem in large cities and towns. Rural areas such as Argyll and Bute are facing a growing number of people waiting for a home and an increasing number of people living in temporary accommodation.

“However, Argyll and Bute council have already taken positive steps to help meet this housing need by making the move to ringfence the money from council tax on second homes.”