Shelter Scotland visit Holyrood to demand action on temporary accommodation

Shelter Scotland will take to Holyrood to call for urgent action to address Scotland’s chronic over reliance on temporary accommodation.

Ahead of First Minister’s Questions on Thursday 8th June, staff and activists from the organisation arrived at Parliament to present Humza Yousaf with a Happy New Home card signed by more than 2,000 supporters from across Scotland.

While his official residence is undergoing renovation, the First Minister reportedly has been provided with temporary accommodation in Edinburgh.

Shelter Scotland asked supporters to sign a card for the First Minister, welcoming him to his new home while also highlighting the plight of the thousands of people, including more than 9,000 children, who are trapped in temporary accommodation across Scotland.

Much of the temporary accommodation in Scotland is entirely unsuitable for its residents, particularly children.

The charity has identified a lack of social housing as the root cause of Scotland’s over reliance on unsuitable temporary accommodation and has called on ministers to deliver at least 38,500 social homes by 2026.

Our Director, Alison Watson, said:

“While the First Minister’s official residence, Bute House, is being renovated thousands of people across Scotland, including children, are trapped in temporary accommodation with nowhere to call home.

“In many cases they are being forced to endure miserable conditions which actively harm their health and are particularly damaging to children.

“Humza Yousaf will be provided with a temporary place in Edinburgh, but while he’ll be there for only 20 weeks, a couple with children in the capital can expect to be stuck there for almost two years.

“We know the First Minister will have a very different experience of temporary accommodation than most, but we also know that he has the power to address the housing emergency and put an end to the misery.

“What’s so frustrating about this situation is that we know what’s causing it and we know how to fix it; we need more social housing.

“That’s what this campaign is about and that’s why thousands of supporters have added their voice to Shelter Scotland’s as we ask Humza Yousaf and the Scottish Government to give us the social homes, we, and our children, so desperately need.”