Welfare reforms ‘raise homelessness risk’
The Homelessness Monitor, a major study by Heriot-Watt University and the University of York, published by homelessness charity Crisis, says the decline is threatened by underlying housing pressures, with trends in “hidden homelessness” showing a more mixed picture.
Recorded homelessness is in decline north of the Border, bucking the UK trend, which has seen a dramatic rise.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdStatutory homelessness applications in Scotland have fallen by 19 per cent over the past year, dropping from 55,663 in 2010-11 to 45,322 in 2011-12. Rough sleeping is also decreasing.
Leslie Morphy, chief executive of Crisis, said: “The coalition is sweeping away the welfare safety nets – particularly housing benefit – that have traditionally saved people from the horrors of homelessness.
“The Scottish Government and councils will need to ensure homelessness and housing remains a spending priority”.