Most believe Scottish government is failing on child homelessness

Britain / 4 November 2026 Stop insuring Papua New Guinea ‘carbon bomb,’ climate activists demand outside summit 4 November 2026 Justice System / 4 November 2026 25 arrested outside Supreme Court as Palestine Action ban appeal begins 4 November 2026 Justice System / 4 November 2026 Woman ‘deeply disappointed’ by court taking no further action against MI5 for false evidence 4 November 2026 Cost-of-Living Crisis / 4 November 2026 Time to act on energy profits, Labour told 4 November 2026 Britain / 4 November 2026 Menopause can have ‘huge’ impact on women’s pension savings, research suggests 4 November 2026 Britain / 4 November 2026 Miliband blames Blair for anger over slavery 4 November 2026 THE majority of the public believe the Scottish government is failing to do enough to tackle record levels of child homelessness, according to new polling.

Research by YouGov on behalf of housing charity Shelter has found that just 16 per cent of the 1,032 adults surveyed in Scotland last month thought ministers were doing enough on the issue, compared with 58 per cent who thought they were falling short.

The number of children languishing in temporary accommodation in Scotland has reached a record high of 10,175, despite First Minister John Swinney’s insistence that ending child poverty would be the “defining mission” of his government and a promise in September that he would stop youngsters being housed in that way.

Shelter Scotland interim director Gordon Llewellyn-MacRae said: “This should be a stark warning to the government that, despite many pledges, they aren’t cutting through and meaningful change has yet to be felt across Scotland.

“They must do more for the thousands of families stuck in limbo, not knowing when or where they’ll move next. That’s children with nowhere to do homework or play and no chance to thrive.”

The figures come after Shelter Scotland, Fife Gingerbread and families impacted by homelessness met Housing Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville to offer a route map setting out what the government must do to prevent children ending up in temporary housing.

Calling the meeting a “positive step,” he added: “If the government acts on this route map, they can lift thousands of children out of unsafe and harmful environments and give them and their families a real chance to thrive.”

Fife Gingerbread chief executive Laura Millar said: “Every child deserves a safe place to call home where they can flourish.

“The families who shaped this route map have shared their experiences with courage and honesty. They deserve to see that courage met with action. 

“A secure home is not a privilege; it is a right. 

“We now need collective action at the pace and scale this crisis demands.”

Welcoming the route map, Ms Somerville said: “We are determined to make progress and want to see children and families in settled homes as soon as possible. Our record £4.9 billion investment over the next four years will help deliver 36,000 affordable homes, enough for up to 24,000 children.”