Meeting of the Parliament 26 April 2023
I thank Mr Griffin and the Labour group for using their parliamentary time to discuss the recommendations of the temporary accommodation task and finish group, which I have read with interest.
Let us look at the situation in which we find ourselves in Scotland, specifically in regard to temporary accommodation. The latest Scottish Government figures, from the end of September 2022, state that there are 14,458 households in temporary accommodation in Scotland, which is an increase on the previous year’s figure.
The same Scottish Government report advises that 9,130 children are recorded as being in temporary accommodation, which is the highest level recorded so far, with the figure increasing year on year. Out of the almost 15,000 households in temporary accommodation, 7,010 of them have at least one additional support need identified—in simple terms, that means that they need support on a day-to-day basis. In temporary accommodation, there are 903 households in which at least one person is living with a physical disability and 529 households in which at least one person is living with a learning disability.
What is not mentioned in those appalling figures and is not mentioned anywhere in the 15 recommendations is concern for women’s homelessness and the causes behind it. Although homelessness has many common triggers, ranging from household disputes, relationship breakdown, financial problems, being asked to leave the family home and so on, the most common trigger for women is domestic physical or sexual abuse.
I strongly agree with Scottish Women’s Aid when it states that it is
“very disappointed that this important opportunity to consider the distinct gendered differences and underlying causes of women’s homelessness and, correspondent approaches to prevent it, has not been taken”.
We should be taking this opportunity to deal with the scourge of women’s hidden homelessness, but again we find that the concerns of women are not recognised. I am worried that the Government’s amendment removes the need for urgency, because women’s homelessness must be addressed now.
Scottish Women’s Aid goes on to say that “homelessness is inherently gendered”. An understanding of the distinct experiences of women and children and the underlying causes of their risk of homelessness is essential if we are to develop effective responses in Scotland to tackle and prevent it.
It is concerning that statistics for gender-based homelessness are not included, but that is understandable when we know that that type of temporary accommodation is not registered. Many women look to sofa surf, using friends’ generosity to remove themselves from the perils of an abusive relationship.
If we do not focus on the specifics, we miss the chance to make necessary transformation for everlasting change, and all of these good intentions become obsolete if the housing stock is simply not there to ensure safe and permanent accommodation. Therefore, housing stock must be addressed urgently.