Coalition urges Dundee to declare housing emergency amid rising homelessness

The city rejected the chance to make a declaration on two separate occasions in 2024, the first coming just days before the Scottish Government declared a nationwide housing emergency.

Now, with 225 children currently living in temporary accommodation and families trapped for months or even years without stable homes, Shelter Scotland is warning that “business as usual” is not working and that without urgent action, the situation will continue to deteriorate.

In response, the charity worked in partnership with other organisations in Dundee to form the Dundee Housing Emergency Coalition. Together, they have brought forward a Housing Emergency Action Plan (HEAP) aimed at fighting the city’s housing emergency head-on.

The plan sets out practical measures to reduce the number of families in temporary accommodation, strengthen housing rights, and create a fairer housing system for the city. The coalition is calling on Dundee City Council to formally declare a housing emergency and adopt the HEAP as a first step toward meaningful change.

Shelter Scotland director, Alison Watson, said: “Dundee is already living with the consequences of a housing emergency - whether politicians want to accept it or not.

“The people of Dundee won’t sit back and wait for politicians to step up any longer. Dundee’s Housing Emergency Coalition has come together to make a plan; it is now decision makers’ turn to act’.

“Latest statistics show there are 225 children in temporary accommodation and a 24% rise in homeless applications in 2024/25. The cost of inaction is being paid by people already being pushed to the edge by this emergency, and that cannot be ignored.

“Decision makers have a chance to be bold, take the lead, and show Dundee they’re willing to face up to the scale of the challenge. Declaring a housing emergency, adopting the HEAP, and demanding the investment and support they need from the Scottish and UK Government to tackle the housing emergency, would be the first steps in what would be a clear signal that the council is ready to work with communities and take the urgent action this demands.

“The choice is simple - accept that Dundee is in a housing emergency and take the action needed to fix it or continue to ignore the scale of the challenge.”