Five children a day in Scotland face the threat of homelessness due to eviction, according to a shocking new report released today (Friday) from leading housing and homelessness charity, Shelter Scotland.

The report, Eviction of children and families: the impact and the alternatives, highlights the depth of the problem in Scotland and the devastating impact that eviction can have on the lives of children and families. The report also focuses in on best practice and looks at alternatives to eviction being used by a variety of organisations across the country.

Shelter Scotland has issued a five point plan for the Scottish Government and social landlords to take action to avoid eviction and to ensure that it is only ever used as a last resort.

The findings of the report show that approximately 2,000 children were threatened with homelessness as result of eviction in 2007/08 in Scotland, at an estimated cost of £11 million. Evicting families is expensive, the report argues, and is a poor method of collecting rent.

The report also questions whether it is always proportionate or reasonable to evict a family on grounds of rent arrears or a neighbour dispute given the distress and upset it can cause. In addition, when a family is evicted they may then be forced to present as homeless to the local authority that evicted them in the first place.

Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, the housing and homelessness charity, said: 'It is vital alternatives to eviction are sought and it needs to be recognised that eviction is not the best way to recover rent.

'Eviction wrecks lives, leaving families and children without a home and causing severe distress. Families who fall into arrears, more often than not, are struggling with the harsh reality of living in poverty. One family we worked with were evicted for rent arrears following a mix up with housing benefit. This led to the family being homeless for three years and moving four times to different types of temporary accommodation, which was very unsettling and upsetting; particularly for the children.

'As the full force of the recession takes hold, more families will be at risk of eviction, not just repossession. We welcome the moves the Scottish Government has made to tackle repossessions and urge similar measures be taken to reduce evictions. We want to see social landlords, the Scottish Government and advice agencies, working together to ensure eviction is only ever a last resort and prevented wherever possible. One key recommendation we have made is that an evictions summit is held so we can put our heads together to look at the best way forward.'

Shelter Scotland is calling for all social landlords and the Scottish Government to promote best practice and reduce evictions across the country.

The housing charity wants the Scottish Government and social landlords to adopt the following five point plan, based around best practice on reducing evictions:

1. Make sure families know about their responsibilities and what to do when things go wrong before the tenancy starts.
2. Identify and act to deal with problems that may lead to rent arrears or eviction, such as unemployment, illness or relationship breakdown.
3. Ensure families are receiving all the benefits and tax credits they are entitled to.
4. Develop a checklist of all possible alternatives to eviction to be used when legal action against tenants is being considered.
5. Organise an 'evictions summit' bringing together social landlords, the Scottish Government and advice agencies to agree alternatives to eviction and to amend legislation to help ensure it is always a last resort.

Notes to editors

1. Shelter Scotland believes everyone should have a home. The charity helps 170,000 people a year across the UK fight for their rights, get back on their feet, and find and keep a home. We also tackle the root causes of Scotland’s housing crisis by campaigning for new laws, policies and solutions.
2. Approximately 2,000 children lost their homes in 2007/08 as a result of eviction in Scotland. This is the equivalent of 5 children a day. Further details can be found in the policy report Eviction of children and families: the impact and alternatives
   
3. Spokespeople are available for interview, telephone the media office on 0844 515 2442. An ISDN line number is available for broadcast interviews.
4. Follow Shelter Scotland on Facebook; Twitter; Bebo. Or pick up a Twibbon.