Over 1,000 Forth Valley children homeless last Christmas

More than 1,000 children were without a home in Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire last Christmas.

New figures also show over 2,000 homelessness applications were live on 25th December 2023.

Scottish Government ministers are being urged to set out fresh plans to tackle homelessness in Scotland.

318 applications were live on 25th December 2023 in Clackmannanshire, 1,161 were ongoing in Falkirk, and there were 563 in Stirling

1076 were children without a home in Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire last Christmas.

Scottish Lib Dem housing spokesperson Paul McGarry says:

“At Christmas time, most of us can count on a secure roof over our heads, but tens of thousands of Scots are not so fortunate.

“A lack of availability, skyrocketing prices and poor-quality housing has made life miserable for so many. The SNP have compounded those problems by previously slashing the housing budget by a quarter and failing to build the thousands of homes promised for social rent.

“Homelessness takes a severe toll on people’s mental and physical health. It also sets back children’s development in a way that can leave them worse off for life.

“After almost two decades at the helm, the SNP have failed to make a dent. It’s time to get to work on confronting the housing emergency, getting more houses built, maximising existing stock and giving everyone a safe place to call home.”