Empty homes to be transformed into emergency housing for homeless families in Midlothian

Empty council homes are set to be transformed into emergency accommodation for homeless families in Midlothian.

Councillors are expected to approve plans which will see properties which are considered difficult to re-let used as short-term accommodation for parents and children or pregnant members of a household.

The Midlothian Families Project is set to be given the go-ahead by councillors next week.

A report to the council’s cabinet on Tuesday asks for the go ahead to use the properties, described as two three-bedroom and four two-bedroom homes. and says it will be the third project of this type in Midlothian.

It says: “Due to the tenant’s support needs and sensitivity requirements in cases such as domestic violence (i.e. proximity to alleged perpetrator), it would be beneficial for the homeless service to have additional emergency family accommodation across Midlothian.

“Officers from housing services have identified a site which would be suitable for use as emergency homeless accommodation in the Midlothian area.

“The properties are in the process of being brought up to a lettable standard. All tenants who were previously resident in this property were awarded a management transfer and are suitably accommodated.

“We therefore have the opportunity to utilise the whole block for the provision of short term emergency accommodation.

“The property is one which has been difficult to re-let through the usual route of allocation, resulting in extended void times and associated loss of rental income.”

No address for the properties is identified in the report and the cost of the project is also not in the report.

However it says the new accommodation will have a concierge on site similar to the service at the current projects.

It says: “Midlothian Council currently has two families’ projects which provide fully furnished self-contained emergency accommodation.

“On site housing support is provided through a concierge service based within the building. This service is paid for through the service charge applied to these properties.

“This initial set up cost can be met through the funding received from the Scottish Government to find Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan projects.”