HOUSING EMERGENCY

Scandal of 10,000 children forced to live in temporary accommodation is the 'defining issue of our times'

- CHRIS MCCALL

SCOTLAND’S housing emergency is the “defining issue of our times”, John Swinney has been warned.

A coalition of charities and housing groups has today shared an open letter calling on the Scottish Government to take action to cut the number of children stuck in temporary accommodation.

Organisations including Shelter Scotland and the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) said they recognised SNP ministers had already set out "ambitious" strategies to reduce homelessness.

But they warned the plans had been "fatally undermined" by spending cuts at Holyrood and Westminster and a lack of political will to fund a shift away from crisis intervention and towards prevention-based work.

It comes after eight councils in Scotland including Glasgow and Edinburgh - have so far declared a housing emergency as they are unable to meet demand.

Around 10,000 children are living with their families in temporary residences, such as B&Bs and hotels, due to the lack of social housing available nationwide.