Government accused of ‘neglect’ over children in temporary accommodation

The Liberal Democrats have accused the Scottish Government of “catastrophic neglect” after figures showed the number of children in temporary accommodation for more than a year rose by more than a third between 2020 and 2024.

Stats obtained by the party via a Freedom of Information request show that in 2024, 3,504 children had spent more than a year in temporary accommodation across 30 out of Scotland’s 32 local authorities.

This compares with 2,529 recorded in 2020 – an increase of 38%.

Edinburgh saw the largest numerical increase, with the total number of children rising by 317 (21%) from 1,527 to 1,844, followed by Glasgow with an increase of 157 (30%), from 515 to 672.

The steepest rises were seen in Stirling and Falkirk, with the number of children in temporary accommodation for more than a year in Stirling going from 12 to 95, and in Falkirk from 43 to 161.

The number also fell in some councils – most notably in North Lanarkshire, which saw a 91% drop from 47 in 2020 to just four in 2024.

The figures come as separate stats show the number of children in temporary accommodation reached a record 10,480 in September 2025, up from 10,360 the year before.

The party’s housing spokesman Paul McGarry said: “These figures lay bare the SNP’s catastrophic neglect.

“As Housing Secretary, Mairi McAllan was supposed to offer a fresh start, but things have gone from bad to worse. Housing is clearly not a priority for the SNP.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats have set out a realistic plan to tackle a lack of availability and poor-quality homes.

“We want to see change with fairness at its heart, which starts by confronting the housing crisis head-on: getting more homes built, maximising existing stock and giving everyone a safe place to call home.

“If you are disgusted by the SNP’s failure to build enough homes, no matter where you are, you can back Scottish Liberal Democrats on the peach regional ballot paper at May’s election and deliver the change that Scotland needs.”

Ms McAllan said: “Temporary accommodation is an important safety net for those who need it.

“This is especially true in Scotland where our protective anti-homelessness laws mean everyone is entitled to temporary accommodation if they need it.

“In the vast majority of cases this is council homes and flats where people and families can live until moved to permanent accommodation.

“Therefore, while a roof over a family’s head is a vital safety net, we of course want the time spent there to be as short as possible.

“The key to reducing time spent in temporary accommodation is delivering more affordable homes and preventing homelessness in the first place – both of which we are determinedly delivering.

“Having delivered 141,000 affordable homes since 2007, we are ramping up activity with a record £4.9 billion in the coming four years.

“This will see 36,000 more affordable homes delivered. While those homes are being built, we have also been providing £120 million to councils so they buy homes off the market immediately, getting people out of temporary and into settled accommodation.”