Over 500 homeless deaths in Scotland in just three years sparks demand for action over 'national disgrace'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

At least 157 homeless Scots died last year, taking the total in just three years to 518. Campaigners have branded the situation a “national disgrace” and reversal of an £81 million funding cut.Data on verified deaths for 2022 from the Museum of Homelessness suggest a 15 per cent drop compared to 2021, when Covid was rife.

But campaigners have claimed that the figures are still out of control and a direct result of failure to provide affordable homes over many years.The revelation of latest figures came as Sean Clerkin, of the Scottish Tenants Association, led a protest at a conference in Glasgow held by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations - which was costing £252 for delegates to attend.

Clerkin said the latest death toll is caused by underfunding, which makes a sick contrast to the huge sums being paid just to take part in talks on homelessness.He said: “A total of 518 homeless people have died in Scotland since 2019, which is a national disgrace and a testament to the complete indifference of the Scottish Government to homeless people.

The total includes 50 Homeless people in Glasgow and 40 in Edinburgh in 2022.“We are living through a homelessness crisis and we demand that tens of thousands of new social rented homes should be built with wraparound services to support vulnerable people as a matter of priority."Clerkin said the Scottish Government should reverse cuts to a fund to build 110,000 affordable homes by 2032.