HOMELESSNESS in Dumfries and Galloway has increased by 25 per cent during the past year according to new figures released last week.
During 2021/2022, 998 people applied for homeless applications in the region, with the number increasing to 1252 in 2022/2023.
Alongside this, the number of children associated with applications assessed as homeless increased from 338 to 381, a 13 per cent increase between 2018.2019 and 2022/2023.
To make matters worse, the number of children living in temporary accommodation rose by 67 per cent between 2022 and 2023 from 60 to 100.
Scotland as a whole has had the highest number of applications since records began, but Dumfries and Galloway has been hit extremely hard compared to other authorities.
South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has accused the UK and Scottish Governments of ‘chronic inaction’ in regards to the homelessness crisis, and has called for more long-term solutions.
He said: “These stark figures must be a wake-up call. This shocking situation is a damning indictment of both the UK and Scottish Governments who have presided over this crisis with chronic inaction.
“We need real solutions to get more people in our region properly housed.
“The fact there are nearly 400 children within these figures and 100 of them living in temporary accommodation should shame us all.
“Too many people in our area are in crisis and local services are struggling to support them.”
