Thousands of disabled people are waiting for permanent housing in Edinburgh

Lothian MSP Jeremy Balfour says that over 6,000 disabled people across Edinburgh are currently waiting for permanent housing.

The Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP has found out after making a Freedom of Information Request that 6,676 people across the city are waiting on housing.

That is an increase of 509 since March last year, when 6193 individuals were waiting and a significant increase since 2017 when less than 500 were waiting.

Mr Balfour has expressed serious concern for those waiting such a long time to find a home, and called for the SNP government to reverse this trend and give Edinburgh City Council the resources to tackle the ever growing problem.

On average, those waiting are now waiting over 1,000 days to be housed permanently.

Mr Balfour, who is also the convenor of the Cross-Party Group on Disability, said: “It is disgraceful that thousands of disabled people across Edinburgh are waiting for housing, potentially living in completely unsuitable circumstances.

“It is a problem that is only getting worse across the city and the SNP Government must urgently give Edinburgh City Council the resources they need to tackle the issues faced.

“We’ve seen the city council underfunded for far too long, which hits frontline services like providing permanent housing for some of the most vulnerable in our society.

“Having to wait over 1,000 days for permanent housing is completely unacceptable.

“As convenor of the Cross-Party group on disabilities, I will continue to lobby for the needs of our disabled people to be taken much more seriously at all levels of Government and call on the SNP Government to reverse these worrying trends.”

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