West Dunbartonshire Council declares housing emergency as 5,100 people on waiting list

West Dunbartonshire Council has become the fifth local authority in Scotland to declare a housing emergency after new figures revealed there were more than 5,100 people on the housing waiting list.

The decision was described as “devastating” by one councillor who stated the reduction in funding for affordable housing along with pressures on meeting the needs of current tenants had given the council “no option”.

Argyll and Bute, Edinburgh, Fife and Glasgow have all declared a housing emergency of their own.

It has been confirmed that as of February 29 this year, there were 5,166 applicants on the list as well as an additional 470 households experiencing homelessness in West Dunbartonshire.

The local authority is also at risk of breaching the Unsuitable Accommodation Order which means your home is either overcrowded, in poor condition and/or is affecting your health or the health of someone you live with.

The Scottish Housing Regulator declared a systematic failure in West Dunbartonshire’s homelessness system in December.

During today’s housing and communities committee, councillor Gurpreet Singh Johal asked members to declare a housing emergency and to write to the Scottish Government to reverse their decision to cut the affordable housing supply programme.

Councillor Johal said: “I note with significant concern the content of this report. The previous report and through my discussions with the chief officer, [show] the extreme pressures facing homelessness services in West Dunbartonshire today.

“These pressures exist, despite the best endeavours and professionalism of housing and homelessness officers within the council who have been supported by tenant representatives and have seen a number of positive achievements.”

Officers have managed to prevent 262 households from becoming homeless and 133 new council homes have been developed.

Councillor Johal said: “However the number of households assessed as homeless or in housing need, waiting for a house to call their own, remains a significant concern to me.

“At the end of the latest reporting year, there were over 5,500 households on our housing waiting lists, 274 households living in temporary accommodation – sadly this includes 89 children without the safety, security and nurturing home environment to thrive in their early years.

“This requires action today which is why I am moving the amendment that the committee declares a housing emergency and bring forward a housing emergency action plan ahead of summer recess.

“This plan will address how we will tackle homelessness and increase housing supply in the short and medium term.

“I also move that West Dunbartonshire Council’s housing and communities committee request the Scottish Government urgently review the decision to cut the affordable housing supply programme allocation to West Dunbartonshire by 27% – the equivalent of £2.73m for 2024/25.”

The motion was agreed unanimously by members.

Councillor Johal added: “It is devastating that the circumstances we find ourselves in mean that we now have to declare a housing emergency.

“Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the staff in our Housing department, our tenant representatives in the community and external partners, the reduction in funding for affordable housing along with pressures on meeting the needs of current tenants has given us no option.

“This decision has not been taken lightly but I sincerely hope that this can help lead us on the path of greater stability for everyone in our communities, especially those who are facing homelessness and unstable accommodation.”

Vice convener of housing, councillor Hazel Sorrell, said: “I want to place on record my thanks for the dedication and effort which staff within the housing department continue to put in to mitigate the impacts of external factors on our ability to provide safe, affordable homes for our citizens.

“We now find ourselves in a situation where we urgently require additional resources to help us deal with the pressures which have had an adverse impact on housing within our communities.”