There has been a dramatic increase in the number of families presenting as homeless in Perth and Kinross.
Perth and Kinross Council has said the cost of living crisis and a sharp drop in the number of families seeking support during the pandemic has led to the rise.
The latest available figures are laid bare in Perth and Kinross Council's Communities Annual Performance Report 2022/23.
The number of families presenting as homeless increased by 32 per cent in 2022/23 from 2021/22 and by 70 per cent when compared with 2020/21.
There were a total of 141 presentations from families in 2022/23. Pressures caused by the cost of living crisis are said to have contributed to an increase in relationship breakdowns.
The report - which went before Perth and Kinross Council's Housing and Communities Committee last month - stated: " It should be noted that presentations from families in particular were suppressed during the pandemic and cost of living pressures are contributing to an increase in relationship breakdowns. Our Housing Support Service aims to prevent homelessness through the provision of person-centred housing support."
This week a PKC spokesperson said the figures - while rising - still remain below pre-pandemic levels.
The council spokesperson said: "The 32 per cent rise in families experiencing homelessness in 22/23 is driven by two factors: a general increase in homelessness as a result of complex issues around rising inflation and cost-of-living pressures; and a sharp drop in numbers of families seeking support during the pandemic period. Pre COVID-19, we had 168 homeless presentations from families. In 20/21 and 21/22 this reduced respectively to 83 and 107. In 22/23 there were 141 presentations, which remains below pre-pandemic levels.
However, an elected member briefing on homelessness levels - issued to councillors earlier this year in February 2023 - described 2022/23 as "one of the most challenging" PKC has faced since it launched its "innovative" Home First approach in 2017.
Home First is PKC's offer to those who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless. It aims to provide a home - settled rather than temporary accommodation - as its first response to homelessness. PKC's vision in taking this approach is - wherever possible - "avoiding the stigma, cost and uncertainty of temporary accommodation and homelessness".
The scheme has been recognised by the Scottish Government as a leading example. However - along with other local authorities - PKC has seen a post-pandemic increase in households presenting as homeless.
The February briefing to councillors also reported a "significant reduction in the supply of permanent accommodation with a 35 per cent reduction in available properties across the Common Housing Register partners". The reasons for this reduction are complex but are primarily associated with reduced levels of new-build completions and tenants not wanting to move due to cost of living pressures and generally unfavourable economic conditions.
PKC has also noticed an unexpected increase in non-UK nationals presenting as homeless.
The briefing said: "One of the new demand pressures that we have experienced this year is a significant increase in presentations from non-UK nationals particularly from Romania and Poland. The numbers are higher than they were pre-Brexit which is unexpected. We are working with PKAVS Minority Communities Hub and other partners on this issue and have commissioned specialist training for the Team on Immigration, eligibility and associated issues."
On September 30, 2022 Perth and Kinross had 51 households in temporary accommodation - a 38 per cent increase compared to the same date in 2021.
While homelessness levels had increased, as of September 20, 2022 Perth and Kinross had the second lowest number of live homelessness cases at 170 in Scotland - second only to Shetland.
The full data for 2022-2023 is due to be published at the end of August 2023. This will provide a more up-to-date picture of where Perth and Kinross sits nationally.
A PKC spokesperson this week said: "We can confirm the information included in the February 2023 briefing is accurate. However, many of the references are to the most recently published data from the Scottish Government from September 2022. The full complement of data for 2022-2023 will not be published until the end of August 2023 so it would be difficult to make accurate comparisons between Perth and Kinross and the national picture on this basis."
