HUNDREDS of people fear their homelessness nightmare “will never come to an end” in Dumfries and Galloway, it has been claimed.
Councillors were told the housing crisis which has gripped the region for many years has now moved to emergency status.
A report for them revealed there are currently about 250 homeless households languishing in temporary accommodation, while 1060 households are living “below tolerable standard”.
There are also 845 households with a specialist housing need that cannot be met.
Meanwhile, the number of open homeless applications on the council’s books, as of March this year, was 544 – an increase of 109 percent compared to the previous year.
North West Dumfries Councillor Paula Stevenson, pictured, is appalled at the situation and said: “Behind these figures are individual people living in below standard accommodation, family accommodation that’s far too small for them, and people who need adaptations to live a life of quality again.
“There are many people who fear homelessness – or fear their homelessness will never come to an end.
“The RSLs (registered social landlords) in this area are under pressure to deliver quality housing, and it is important to acknowledge what they have achieved, given the pressures.
“We are limited to what we can do at council level, given the constraints of budgets – but we need to make a start.”
Stranraer and the Rhins Councillor Willie Scobie said: “There are many issues. It’s not only homelessness, we’ve got people in Stranraer being offered bed and breakfast in Dumfries, Annan, and further afield, and vice versa.
“That’s totally unacceptable.”
Councillors agreed to declare the housing emergency, and for council leader Gail Macgregor to write to the Scottish and UK governments seeking additional support for the efforts to tackle the dire housing situation in the region.
