More than 17,000 children waiting longer than a year in temporary accommodation

Scottish Liberal Democrat housing spokesperson and Central Scotland candidate Paul McGarry has today accused the SNP of “catastrophic neglect” as he published figures showing that over the past five years, there have been more than 17,000 children trapped in temporary accommodation for more than a year.

A Scottish Liberal Democrat freedom of information to every Scottish council asked for the number of children stuck in temporary accommodation for over twelve months in every year since 2020.

Of the 30 councils which provided the data, the responses show that:

• Between 2020 and 2025, a total of 17,811 children were trapped in temporary accommodation for longer than a year.
• This included a total of 10,147 children in Edinburgh and 3,742 children in Glasgow.
• In 2024, 3,504 children waited over a year in temporary accommodation- the highest level of the five-year period.
• Between January and October 2025, 3,126 children waited over a year in temporary accommodation.

It comes amid separate figures showing that the number of children currently in temporary accommodation has a reached a new record, rising to 10,480.

Scottish Liberal Democrat Paul McGarry said:

“These figures lay bare the SNP’s catastrophic neglect.

“As Housing Secretary, Mairi McAllan was supposed to offer a fresh start, but things have gone from bad to worse. Housing is clearly not a priority for the SNP.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats have set out a realistic plan to tackle a lack of availability and poor-quality homes.  

“We want to see change with fairness at its heart, which starts by confronting the housing crisis head-on: getting more homes built, maximising existing stock and giving everyone a safe place to call home.

“If you are disgusted by the SNP’s failure to build enough homes, no matter where you are, you can back Scottish Liberal Democrats on the peach regional ballot paper at May’s election and deliver the change that Scotland needs.”