TRANSFORMING LIVES: WHOLE FAMILY SUPPORT
In 2024, Scotland declared a housing emergency. For many of the children, young people, and families we work with this has been a reality for years.
Ournewhousingreportexploresthechallengesfacing familiesandyoungpeopleinaccessingsuitablehousing andisdirectlyinformedbytheirvoicesandexperiences.
Housingisnʼtjustabouthavingaroofoveryourhead.Itʼs abouthealth,education,andstability.Familiessaidpoor housingaffectstheirchildrenʼsabilitytolearnandstudy, damagesmentalhealth,andstrainsrelationships.Someof thefamiliesweworkwithhaveexperiencedabreakdown inrelationshipsonaccountofunsuitablelivingsituations. Foryoungpeopleplacedfarfromtheircommunity,public transportlinksandopportunities,isolationcanleadtopoor mentalhealth,substancemisuse,andhopelessness.
Povertymakesallofthisworse.Thesocialsecuritysystem isdifficulttonavigate,andoftenadversarial.Familiesand youngpeoplesharedexperiencesofbeinginarrears throughnofaultoftheirownandthelong-termimpactthis hashadontheirhealth,finances,andlivingsituation. Somehavebeenchargedfordamagescausedbyemergency servicesandwithouthelpcanʼtaffordtorepairit.This pushesthemfurtherintodebtandcanincreasefeelingsof shameandexperiencesofstigma.
Thisincludemreportsetsoutthehousingexperiencesof youngpeopleandfamilies.Withinthisreportwesetouta seriesofrecommendationsandasweapproachtheScottish ParliamentElections2026,theteamandIwillcontinueto presskeydecisionmakersonthechangesyoungpeople andfamiliestellustheyneedtosee.
Welookforwardtohavingtheseconstructivediscussions.
Martin Dorchester Chief Executive
Scotland is currently in the midst of a housing crisis!
ThisisacknowledgedbytheScottishGovernment,andmostlocalauthoritiesinScotland,andhaslongsince beenfeltbyfamiliesandyoungpeopletryingtoaccesssafe,suitable,affordableandsustainablehousing
Overthepastfewyears,wehavenoticedanincreaseinthenumberofhousingissuescitedatreferralorwhen firstmeetingfamiliesandyoungpeoplewhowearesupporting.Thisincrease,andtheknowledgethatgood housingisimperativeforhealthandwellbeing,evidencedtheneedforfurtherengagementwithfamiliesand youngpeoplewesupport,andexploresomeoftheworkincludemcolleaguesaredoingtosupportfamilies.
Unsurprisingly,thechallengesaresignificant.Familiesreportlivinginovercrowded,damp,andunsuitable accommodationandworryabouttheirchildrenandtheimpactthisishavingonthem.Duetoalackof affordableandsocialhousing,familiesaresometimesforcedintoprivatelets,causingextremefinancial pressuresandstress.
Weheardfromyoungpeople,andincludemworkersthatyoungpeoplecanbeatriskofhomelessnesswhen leavingcare,whenfamilyrelationshipsbreakdownclosetotheir16thbirthday,andthatyoungpeoplewho managetoaccesshousingoftenexperienceisolation,povertyandpoormentalhealthonaccountofthelimited availabilityofsuitablehousing
Atincludemwearecommittedtoamplifyingthevoicesofchildren,youngpeople,andfamiliesandensuring theirviewsshapedecisionsthataremadeaboutthem.Therecommendationsinthisreportarebasedonwhat weheardfromeveryoneweengagedwith.
Aspartofourengagementwelaunchedasurveyaimedatyoungpeopleandfamilies,andhostedroundtable discussionswithcolleagues.IncludemʼsYouthInspireGroup,madeupofyoungpeoplewhohavepreviously beensupportedbyincludem,alsotooksometimetodiscussthechallengesfacingyoungpeopleaswellastheir ownexperiencesofhomelessnessandhousingsupport.Wealsometwithrepresentativesfromahousing associationtohearwhatchallengesarefacingthesectorthatisoftenresponsibleforhousingandsupporting thefamiliesandyoungpeopleweworkwith.
Itisworthnotingthatsurveyresponsesonlyaccountforabout5%offamiliesandyoungpeopleincludem currentlyworkswith.Despitethis,theinformationgatheredlargelymatcheswhatweheardfrom colleaguesworkingdirectlywithfamiliesandyoungpeople.
Please note: This report will refer to ‘suitable housing’ when discussing challenges and opportunities in accessing housing This has been informed by our survey responses which highlighted that families often feel trapped in housing that is unsuitable but due to a lack of alternatives have accepted this reality. Given that we know how important housing is to overall health and wellbeing, we do not accept that any housing meets the requirements of the UNCRC, and suitable housing should be the minimum acceptable standard.
Familiescontinuallyreferencedtheexperiencesoftheirchild andsuitableaccommodation.Accesstoplacestostudy,overc frequentlyreferencedwhenconsideringchildrenʼsneeds.You affectedwhentheywereplacedinhousingthatwasfarfroma loneliness,isolationandinsomecasessubstancesmisuse.We inareasthattheydidnotfeelsafeinonaccountofviolenceandpastaltercations.
[1]ShelterLegalScotland-Allocationpolicies-ShelterScotland
[2]TemporaryAccommodation-HomelessnessinScotland:updateto30September2024-govscot
temporaryaccommodation,orthestateoftheirallocatedhou ofpoverty,andfeelingalackofchoiceandcontrol.Familiess tenants,influencedbyerroneousorillinformedmedianarra
3 https://wwwimprovementserviceorguk/ data/assets/pdf file/0035/56996/Childrens-Rights-and-Hom
4 H 5.ScotlandʼsHousingEmergency–SPICe
6 https://spice-spotlightscot/2024/01/15/affordable-homes-scottish-governm 7 https://hqnetworkcouk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Taking-the-Stigma-out-of-socia
This report was prompted by the rise in the levels of housing support provided to families we work, many of whom are affected by the Housing Emergency and struggle to access suitable, safe, affordable accommodation. The crisis in public services means that support to access good and affordable housing is declining alongside available housing options. This leads families and young people to feel they are not being listened to by key decision makers in their lives
Povertyandhousingareinextricablylinkedasthecostofhousingispushingfamiliesandyoungpeopleinto debtandpoverty Familiesandyoungpeoplewhoareallocatedhousingoftendonothavethenecessary resourcesavailabletofurnishtheirproperty,andwithdecliningpublicfundsavailableforthispurpose, eligibilitycriteriaisbecomingevenmorestrict.Totacklechildpoverty,wemusttacklethehousingemergency.
Ourroundtablediscussionswithcolleaguesallowedustoexploresomeofthechallengesfacingfamiliesand youngpeopleandtoconsiderrecommendationsforchange.Familiesandyoungpeopletoldusthataswellas moreaffordablehousing,furtherinvestmentmustbemadeinWholeFamilySupporttoofferemotionaland practicalsupporttofamiliesandyoungpeopleinneed.
Familiesandyoungpeopletoldushowimportantasafeandstablehomeistothem,andfortheirhealthand wellbeing.Investinginhousingandhousingsupportisaninvestmentincommunities.Thisisespeciallytrue foryoungpeoplewhoareatapivotalpointintheirlifewhenmovingintotheirowntenancyforthefirsttime andintoindependentliving
Weheardfromyoungpeoplethattheyfacedistinctchallengeswhentryingtoaccessaccommodation.We heardaboutyoungpeoplewhoareexpectedtosofa-surfwithnosupportoraccommodationavailableforthem. Youngpeoplewhoareleavingcareareespeciallyatriskofbeingcatapultedintoindependentlivingwithoutthe skillsorknowledgerequiredtomanagethissustainablyinthelongrun.
IfScotlandisto#KeepThePromise,investmentmusturgentlybemadeinsupportforindependentliving alongsideinvestmentinhousingprovision.Crucially,housingforyoungpeoplemustmeettheirneedswith considerationgiventotransportlinks,amenities,andopportunitiesforwork,educationandsocialactivities. ThereareexamplesofgoodpracticeinScotland,andwearegladtobeabletohighlightoneofthem.Pineview HousingAssociationʼsperson-centredandanti-povertyapproachworkstoensuretenantsaresupportedto maintaintheirhomes.
Therecommendationsinthisreporthavebeeninformedbythechildren,youngpeople,andfamilieswespoke to,includemcolleagues,andshouldreminddecision-makersthattacklingthehousingcrisiswillhavea significantimpactonthelivesandfuturesofScotlandʼschildren.
CARE EXPERIENCED YOUNG PEOPLE
TheScottishGovernmentisundertakingaprogramme oflegislativereformtosupportScotlandtokeepThe Promise.Weappreciatethatacommitmenthasbeen madetoimproveoutcomesforyoungpeopleliving in careincludingproposedguidanceonauniversal definitionofcareexperience,careleaverpayments, andexpandedeligibilitycriteriaforcareexperienced youngpeople.
Currently,housingassociationsdonothaveaclear systemforidentifyingcareexperiencedyoungpeople, meaningmanydonotreceivetheadditionalsupport theymaybeentitledto Ifthiswasimproved,young peoplewhoarecareexperiencedwouldbenefitfrom supportwithouthavingtocontinuouslyprovetheir eligibility.
Wealsoheardfromyoungpeoplewhoarecurrentlyin fostercare,andtheanxietythatthefrequentchangein accommodationandplacementscausesthem.One youngpersonspokeabouttheirexperienceofspending threeandahalfyearsinaʻtemporaryplacementʼ becausenootherfostercareplacementcouldbefound forthem.Thisyoungpersonhasbeenlivingoutof boxesandbagsforalotoftheirlifeastheywaitsfor adultstomakedecisionsaboutwheretheygonext Theyareunderstandablyworriedaboutturning16as theyareacutelyawareofthelackofsupports,services, andtoldusthattheydonotknowhowtheywillmanage tosecuretheirowntenancyormaintainit.
Youngpeoplewhoarecareexperiencedarelefttotheir owndevices,needtofightforthesupporttheyʼre entitledto,andareworriedabouttheirfuture.Theydo notfeelloved,safe,orrespectedanddonotfeelthat potential.TokeepThePromise, ntinhousingandsupport.
Inourview,familiesshouldnotbeheldresponsiblefor damagethathasbeencausedbypublicservices, especiallywhenthishasbeendoneinerror,oroutof concernforanindividualorthefamily.Insomecases, wheretenantshavenotbeenabletoaffordthiscost, theyhavelivedformonthsinunsecuredanddamaged housing,furtheraddingtotheirfeelingsofshame,and experiencesofstigma
HOUSING&RELATIONSHIPS
Wherefamiliesarelivinginovercrowdedhomesthis canhaveseriousconsequencesforfamilyrelationships, especiallyaschildrengrowolder.Insomeofthe familiesweworkwiththishasresultedinabreakdown infamilyrelationshipsandrequiredalternativecarefor youngpeople.Notonlydoesthishaveanimpactonthe youngpersonandthefamily,butitplacesaburdenon publicservicestoprovidealternativecare.Weheard fromparentsthatsleeponlivingroomfurnitureor sharebedroomswiththeiryoungestchildrenbecause ofthelackofspace.Thisisachildrenʼsrightsissueas childrenaredeniedthespacetoplay,learn,orhave privacy. Ifwewantchildrentohavethebestchancesof growinguptomeettheirfullpotentialthismustbe urgentlyaddressed.
Familiesalsospokeabouttheirhousingnotbeing suitablefortheirneedsbutfeelingunabletochange thisduetothelackofhousingoptionsavailable
WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE
Aspartofourengagementwithfamiliesandincludem colleagues,weaskedaboutwhatchangeswouldmake thebiggestdifference.Surveyresponsesreceived frequentlycalledfortheScottishGovernment,and otherdecision-makerstolistentothem.Thisspeaksto thefactthatfamiliesandyoungpeoplefeelthattheir voicesarenotbeingheard.
Responsesalsoshowedthatfamiliesfeelthathousing associationsandlandlordsareconsultedindecisions madeabouthousinginScotland,notthemastenants, reflectingthepowerimbalancefeltbyfamiliesand youngpeopleaccessinghousingandhousingsupports Scotlandhasdeclaredahousingemergencyandyet nothinghassubstantiallychangedforfamiliesand youngpeople,corroboratingtheirexperiencesofnot feelingheard.
WHOLE FAMILY SUPPORT
Familiesalsohighlightedtheimportanceandvalueof emotionalsupportalongsidepracticalsupport, recognisingtheimpactthathomelessnessandhousing instabilitycanhaveonafamilyandyoungpeopleliving independently.Respondentcalledformoreavailability ofWholeFamilySupport,toassistthemtoaddressthe differentchallengestheyface.
