Comment on latest Scottish Welfare Fund statistics

Today the Scottish Government revealed more than 285,000 households have relied on the Scottish Welfare Fund in the past five years.

Commenting on the announcement, Alison Watson, Deputy Director of Shelter Scotland, said:

“These figures once again depict the daily struggles of tens of thousands of households across Scotland to make ends meet and keep a roof over their head.

“Harsh welfare reforms, the roll out of Universal Credit, zero-hours contracts, stagnant wages and the high cost of housing are behind these figures and cause ongoing misery and uncertainty and contribute to the growing levels of poverty in Scotland.

“While it is good news the fund exists and is a vital safety net for so many households – a third of them with children – much more needs to be done to resolve the underlying issues to create a fairer and more just society for everyone in Scotland.  Halting the roll-out of the flawed Universal Credit system until it is fixed and a major increase in the supply of truly affordable housing in places where people want to live would be a good start.”