6 PEOPLE IN 1 HOTEL ROOM FOR 2 MONTHS

Family are forced to live on Pot Noodles and kettle-based foods

- MARK MCGIVERN

A MUM and five children shared one hotel room for nearly two months due to Scotland's shameful housing shortage.

Melanie Kivlin, 40, and her children relied on Pot Noodles and other kettle-based food while awaiting a move to a "temporary home", where they are still stuck, 17 months later.

She said she has only spoken to her appointed homelessness officer with Edinburgh City Council once in more than 18 months.

Homeless charity Shelter said the dire case of the Kivlin family is becoming typical, as the chronic failure to build social housing over decades is now biting hard.

The Kivlin family example highlights the deepening crisis that is hitting Scotland, just a week after it was revealed that 16,000 children became homeless last year.

A record number of families and children are also living in temporary accommodation.

Melanie said: "The situation is dire and all I want is a safe roof over my children's heads and a stable school life for them all.

"I couldn't really believe it when we were told last year that the best the homelessness services could offer was one hotel room.