Scotland's housing emergency now impacting 2.3 million adults, Shelter Scotland warns

Over four in 10 adults in Scotland are now impacted by the housing emergency (42%), an increase of 800,000 in just four years (up six percentage points from 36% in 2021), our new research reveals today.

Marking one year since the Scottish Parliament officially declared a housing emergency, a new poll conducted by YouGov exposes the deepening scale of the emergency. It found that 2.3 million adults in Scotland (42 per cent) are struggling with the condition, security, suitability or affordability of their home, or have faced discrimination while trying to find one. *

This comes less than a year before the next Scottish Parliamentary election. Shelter Scotland warns that political leaders have so far failed to deliver meaningful solutions to address the worsening housing emergency. As it launches its new strategy, Shelter Scotland is setting the goal of making next year's Scottish election an election to end the housing emergency. The charity is calling on every voter in Scotland to join the fight for home and demand that politicians of all parties focus on building enough homes.

Our Director Alison Watson said:

“It’s been a year since the Scottish Parliament declared a housing emergency. Since then, homelessness has gone up and social housebuilding has gone down.

“Last week the Scottish Government announced a Programme for Government with no plan to end the housing emergency. Instead, we had a Programme for Homelessness which says nothing about the 10,360 children are trapped in temporary accommodation which experts say exposes them to violence, vermin and isolation. This simply cannot continue into the next government.

“Everyone deserves a safe, secure home. But too many people in Scotland still live in fear — battling unaffordable rents, unsuitable housing, or outright discrimination.

“Today’s research reveals the harsh toll Scotland’s housing emergency has taken over the last four years – and it’s only getting worse.”

She added:

“We want people to arm themselves with the knowledge of their housing rights. Scotland has some of the strongest housing legislation, but local authorities and the government need to comply to the law.

“This continued harm cannot be the norm. It’s time to say: enough is enough. The Scottish Government must urgently publish an updated housing emergency action plan. We need more social homes so the hundreds of thousands of people in Scotland no longer have to compromise their health, safety and education.”

Chelsea’s Story

Chelsea [33] has been in the homeless system since the start of 2023. After being placed in mould ridden temporary accommodation with her three children aged seven months, two, and eight years old, she had no choice but to leave it, fearing it was harming her children’s health. She was placed in a hotel in the centre of Glasgow for a month where they had no cooking facilities and were cramped in one room.

Chelsea said:

“It is a worry when I think about getting a forever home for my children. Whenever I speak to the housing officers, they keep telling me we’re in a housing emergency. People can’t carry on like this. Something has to give.”

Chelsea explained how her children were complaining of headaches and getting nose bleeds, which she worries was from the mould and damp conditions from the temporary accommodation.

“Me and my three children were placed into a hotel room in Glasgow’s city centre. It was horrendous! Three of us were living in just one room with no facilities.

“I had to wash baby bottles in the sink. There was nowhere to cook, no plates to eat food from, so every day we had to eat out. It is financially unstable. The council took our clothes to the laundrette but returned them still wet.

“The bed sheets were stained with blood. It was disgusting. We were in the middle of Glasgow and really felt unsafe.

“It’s had a horrific impact on my children, and I worry about the future impact on them. My son has significant neurodevelopmental issues; he has additional needs and he’s been out of school for three months. His school wouldn’t pay for a taxi from Glasgow city centre to his school. They wouldn’t facilitate him.

“The Government needs to do something. Something has to give. People are trapped and disabled children and women are suffering.”