Children help reveal stark reality of Scotland’s housing emergency in Edinburgh

Children from across Edinburgh helped spread Shelter Scotland’s stark message in the capital’s city centre on Tuesday (8 April).

Children were invited to take part and colour in a canvas to reveal the harrowing statistic that 10,360 children are living without a permanent home in Scotland.

This comes after the housing and homelessness charity published a report, In Their Own Words: Children’s Experiences in Temporary Accommodation, exposing the horrific conditions that many families are facing. Children spoke of living in fear, isolation and surrounded by vermin.

Shelter Scotland Director, Alison Watson said:

“Our damning report shined a light on the horror many children are waking up to in unsuitable accommodation. When the number of children waking up without a forever home, is growing year on year, we need to ask, where do we draw the line? How many more children need to become homeless for the First Minister and Housing Minister to act?

“Warm words need to turn into urgent action. We need a housing emergency action plan from the Scottish Government. All levels of government need to commit to prioritising and investing in developing social housing to ensure everyone has a safe, stable and secure home.

“It has nearly been a year since the Scottish Government declared a housing emergency and after decades of underinvestment, the situation is clearly getting worse- not better. But this can change with more funding and social homes. Ministers and local authorities must work together to fix the broken and biased housing system.

“Failure to act is condemning thousands of children and families to wake up in dangerous conditions every day. When will enough be enough?”