THE number of disabled people on housing waiting lists has dramatically increased in the past two years, new figures have revealed.
In East Renfrewshire, the number waiting for disabled-friendly housing has more than doubled since 2017, with more than 200 in line as of March this year, compared to 95 previously.
And in Renfrewshire, there are now almost 450 people waiting for housing, compared to 325 in 2017, which equals an increase of almost 38 per cent.
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The information was gained via a Scottish Conservatives Freedom of Information request to local authorities.
The average time a disabled person has to wait for housing in East Renfrewshire is 1,642 days, with some waiting as long as 20 years to be given a suitable home.
Renfrewshire Council did not declare how long the average wait for a home was in that area.
Shadow Social Security Secretary Michelle Ballantyne said: “The SNP pretends to be sincere when it comes to helping people with disabilities but these facts expose the reality of the situation.
“Not only are there far too many disabled people waiting for the right housing, that number has nearly doubled in just the last two years.
“It proves the SNP has taken its eye off the ball domestically and allowed a housing crisis to affect the country’s most vulnerable people. The Scottish Government clearly isn’t giving councils the resources they need to address this problem.”
Across Scotland as a while, there are more than 17,444 people waiting for disabled-friendly housing – up from a reported 9,714 in 2017.
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The Tories have said the true figure is likely to be even higher, with large councils across the country such as Glasgow and Fife not responding to the Freedom of Information request.
However, Kevin Stewart, Minister for Housing, said: “We have recently published new practical guidance for local authorities which will support the delivery of more wheelchair accessible housing. The guidance requires local authorities to set targets across all housing tenures for the delivery of wheelchair accessible homes and to report annually on progress.
“We’re also working with health and social care partnerships, disability organisations and the housing sector to ensure those in need of adaptations to their home can access services.”
Below are the number of disabled people on housing waiting lists as of March this year, with the 2017 statistic in brackets:
Aberdeen – 50 (51)
Aberdeenshire – 876 (14)
Angus – 402 (256)
Argyll and Bute – 694 (599)
Clackmannanshire – 468 (219)
Dumfries and Galloway – n/a
Dundee – 101 (681)
East Ayrshire – n/a
East Dunbartonshire – 380 (499)
East Lothian – 10 (214)
East Renfrewshire – 202 (95)
Edinburgh – 6193 (491)
Falkirk – 2493 (385)
Fife – n/a
Glasgow n/a (1979)
Highland – 1378 (158)
Inverclyde – n/a
Midlothian – 733 (910)
Moray – 577 (487)
North Ayrshire – 703 (909)
North Lanarkshire – 265 (177)
Orkney – 15 (6)
Perth and Kinross – n/a
Renfrewshire – 448 (325)
Scottish Borders – n/a
Shetland – 67 (23)
South Ayrshire – n/a (277)
South Lanarkshire – 657 (233)
Stirling – 414 (86)
West Dunbartonshire – 4 (26)
West Lothian – 314 (508)
Western Isles – n/a (106)
Total – 17,444 (9714)
Source for 2017 figures: https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/full-scotlands-disabled-housing-waiting-lists/
Below is the average wait a disabled person faces for accommodation, broken down by council area, as of March this year, with the single longest wait in brackets:
Aberdeen – 239 days (12.9 years)
Aberdeenshire – 260 days (n/a)
Angus – 406 days (Since October 2012)
Argyll and Bute – 313 days (Since February 2001)
Clackmannanshire – n/a
Dumfries and Galloway – n/a
Dundee – n/a (5 years 4 months)
East Ayrshire – 434 days (6 years 7 months)
East Dunbartonshire – 1387 days (Since 1995)
East Lothian – 1825 days (10 years)
East Renfrewshire – 1642 days (20 years)
Edinburgh – 985 days (Since April 2003)
Falkirk – 770 days (1944 days)
Fife – n/a
Glasgow – n/a
Highland – n/a
Inverclyde – n/a
Midlothian – 985 days (12.6 years)
Moray – 791 days (n/a)
North Ayrshire – 877 days (Since 2009)
North Lanarkshire – 753 days (19 years)
Orkney – 699 days (6 years)
Perth and Kinross – n/a
Renfrewshire – n/a
Scottish Borders – n/a
Shetland – 371 days (8 years)
South Ayrshire – n/a
South Lanarkshire – 1175 days (24 years)
Stirling – 669 days (21.7 years)
West Dunbartonshire – n/a (8 years)
West Lothian – n/a
Western Isles – n/a
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