‘Disaster’: Call to fire disgusting Herald writer as number of Scots children in temporary accommodation remains far below level in England and is growing three times less quickly

By Professor John Robertson OBA The Herald today has this tasteless and inaccurate view of a ‘homeless’ child. ‘Disaster’: Call to fire housing minister as number of Scots homeless children soars – Calls have been made for the housing minister to be fired as the number of children in temporary accommodation has hit record levels – shooting up by over 14% in two years. Homeless does not mean on the street. It means in temporary accommodation meeting basic standards. The Herald is trying to shock you with this image. From STV, under another poverty porn image, today: The number of children living … Continue reading ‘Disaster’: Call to fire disgusting Herald writer as number of Scots children in temporary accommodation remains far below level in England and is growing three times less quickly

Disgraceful journalism to exploit homelessness and rough-sleeping in the country with by far the least

The Herald today has this nasty, exploitative image to misrepresent the nature of homelessness for children in Scotland. A child sleeping rough or begging on the streets would be picked up and taken to a safe place. Some facts about homelessness in the UK they don’t want you to know: 1 Core Homelessness lowest in Scotland ‘Core homelessness’ – a concept which captures the most severe and immediate forms of homelessness – is estimated to have stood at 14,250 households on a given night in Scotland in 2019, having been relatively stable over the preceding seven years. Rates of core homelessness are substantially lower in Scotland (0.57% of households) than in England (0.94%) … Continue reading Disgraceful journalism to exploit homelessness and rough-sleeping in the country with by far the least

44% more homeless children in England than in Scotland and increasing at THREE times the rate

No exploitative, insensitive images here. By Professor John Robertson OBA From Shelter Scotland: As of March 2024, 10,110 children were living in temporary accommodation in Scotland, which is the highest number ever recorded. This is a 5% increase from March 2023, when 9,595 children were in temporary accommodation. https://scotland.shelter.org.uk/housing_policy/homelessness_in_scotland#:~:text=Key&text=In%202023/24%20there%20were,we%20plan%20to%20achieve%20this. So, unless the SNP Government is doing a better job in fighting poverty, England might be expected to have around 101 000. Does it? From Shelter England: As of April 30, 2024, 145,800 children are homeless and living in temporary accommodation in England, which is the highest number on record. This is a 15% increase from the previous … Continue reading 44% more homeless children in England than in Scotland and increasing at THREE times the rate

More news they don’t want you to hear – Boosting housing supply to tackle homelessness

Already building more affordable housing in Scotland to help fight poverty, this new initiative is important. From the Scottish Government yesterday and covered nowhere as far as I can see: Efforts to boost affordable housing supply by acquiring properties to bring into use for affordable housing and help reduce homelessness will be given an £80 million uplift over the next two years. The funding, announced by First Minister Humza Yousaf on a visit to Hillcrest Housing Association’s Derby Street development in Dundee, will increase the Affordable Housing Supply Programme budget to nearly £600 million in 2024-2025. Investment will help reduce … Continue reading More news they don’t want you to hear – Boosting housing supply to tackle homelessness

As homelessness falls only in Scotland – the irony of those claiming we’re being ‘gaslighted’ actually doing it

Today in the Herald: The head of one of Scotland’s most influential charities has launched a scathing attack on Humza Yousaf over the nation’s “housing emergency” claiming the First Minister is “gaslighting” the country. Alison Watson, director of Shelter Scotland – the leading housing and homelessness charity – spoke out as it emerged nearly 10,000 children are currently homeless and living in temporary accommodation, such as cheap hotels and B&Bs. First, some facts: The Guardian today has There has been a dramatic rise in the number of homeless young people in the UK since Christmas, charities have warned. The New Horizon Youth Centre in London said a record number of … Continue reading As homelessness falls only in Scotland – the irony of those claiming we’re being ‘gaslighted’ actually doing it

As it surges across UK, youth homelessness falls steadily under SNP

The Guardian today has There has been a dramatic rise in the number of homeless young people in the UK since Christmas, charities have warned. The New Horizon Youth Centre in London said a record number of young people had asked it for help in the first week of January, while the charity Akt, which supports homeless LGBTQ+ young people, said it had seen more referrals than it would expect in a month. Roundabout in Sheffield and YMCA Trinity, which operates in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk, also reported increases. Research by the charity Centrepoint estimated that 135,800 young people approached their … Continue reading As it surges across UK, youth homelessness falls steadily under SNP

Child Homelessness hits an all-time high in the failing UK (England)

No exploitative images here Leah Gunn Barrett This was published in the January 4th, 2024 Edinburgh Evening News. The last two lines, calling on Scotland to end the failing union, were edited out. Only by restoring Scottish sovereignty can we end homelessness and poverty. Child homelessness has hit an all-time high in the failing UK. 1 in 84 children don’t have a home and many are forced to stay in freezing shipping containers, overcrowded B&Bs and unsecured premises without locks.  Shelter reported that the number of homeless in England rose 14% last year. One in ten of England’s largest councils are nearing bankruptcy … Continue reading Child Homelessness hits an all-time high in the failing UK (England)