HOMELESSNESS in Scotland has risen for the first time since 2010, new figures show. The number of homelessness applications to councils hit 18,500 in the six months from April 1 to September 30 last year. The total is 2% up on the same period in 2017 and marks a reversal of recent trends.

The number of people seeking urgent help had fallen since spring 2010, but this slowed in 2015.

And the upward change is more acute for children, with the number of youngsters in temporary agreement rising by 245 – in increase of 4% – to 6830.

Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said the Scottish Government – which launched its Ending Homelessness Together action plan in November – is “taking decisive action”.

But Graeme Brown of charity Shelter Scotland said: “If alarm bells weren’t already ringing in Holyrood they should be now.

“The good progress on homelessness we have seen in recent years is being eroded and homelessness is blighting the lives of even more people in Scotland – robbing them of their health, security and a fair chance in life.”

Labour’s Pauline McNeill said the “disgraceful” figures are a result of SNP budget “cuts to councils”.

LibDem Caron Lindsay said both the Holyrood and Westminster governments “have failed these families” and Andy Wightman of the Greens commented: “While the Scottish Government has recently made concerted efforts to tackle homelessness, its ambitions must be matched with appropriate funding and support for our most vulnerable of citizens.”

Blaming the impact of Westminster welfare changes, Stewart said: “We are doing everything within our powers, including investing more than £127 million in 2018-19, to mitigate UK welfare reform and drive lasting change to prevent and end homelessness.”

The figures were published after reports that around 20 homeless people have died in Glasgow in the past six weeks. The Ferret suggested many could be linked to the use of so-called street valium. Glasgow City Council has issued a warning about the drug.