Anger at homeless housed in hotel rooms

STV
Homeless Accommodation: Rooms booked at Premier Inn hotel

Opposition councillors have hit out at Aberdeen City Council’s decision to house homeless people in hotel rooms.

It has been revealed that homeless people have been moved into the Premier Inn in the city’s West North Street.

The chain’s website states that rooms are charged at £62.50 a night.

It is understood that around ten rooms are currently being occupied by homeless people.

Labour housing spokesman Councillor Jim Hunter slammed the decision.

He said: “Yes, we have a duty to the homeless but we shouldn’t be using tax payer’s money to put them up in luxury surroundings.

Mr Hunter said the council had made the situation worse by refusing to grant a house-in-multiple-occupation (HMO) licence for the hostel in the city’s Crown Street. The council is now preparing to take itself on in court to have the decision overturned.

The local authority said it was taking steps to address the “chronic” shortage of temporary accommodation in the city.

Mark McDonald said: “We have a legal obligation to house people which has seen us using bed and breakfasts, however there is a limit to the availability in Aberdeen so we have been forced to seek partnership in other areas of the private sector.

“We have a number of people staying at the Premier Inn at a room-only rate.

“We’re in the process of bringing in new temporary accommodation both in terms of flats and in terms of the conversion of Aberdon House but that is not going to happen overnight and we need to put alternative measures in place in the meantime.

Cllr McDonald said Councillor Hunter and the Labour group tried to block plans to house homeless people at Aberdon House in Tillydrone.

He said: “I’m struggling to understand why they can attack us when had they been successful, we’d have been in a far worse situation then we’re currently in.”

“At present this is the only option for us to house these particular people. It’s under constant review and as new properties become available we will hopefully reduce our need to try both the Premier Inn and the bed and breakfast accommodation.”