Published today by Crisis in Scotland, ‘A Life in Limbo’ marks the launch of the charity’s new campaign to limit use of unsuitable temporary accommodation across the country.

While temporary accommodation is an important first step in helping homeless people find safe and secure housing, the report argues that many of the clients who seek help from Crisis are being left to languish in unsuitable temporary accommodation with strict curfews and without access to basic facilities such as a washing machine, private bathroom or cooking facilities. Many Crisis clients have reported living in such conditions for many months with some shockingly left there for as long as two years.

In October, the Scottish Government will restrict the legal time limit on unsuitable temporary accommodation from 14 to seven days for families and pregnant women. The charity is calling on the minister for local government and housing, Kevin Stewart MSP, to make a change in the law to extend this right to all homeless people and ensure that Scotland retains its reputation as a world leader in tackling homelessness.

‘A Life in Limbo’ argues that no homeless person, regardless of where they live or their circumstances, should be housed in unsuitable accommodation except in emergency situations. The report highlights the many problems homeless people are forced to face when placed in unsuitable temporary accommodation for long periods of time - strict curfews, social isolation or being evicted with little notice are just some of the issues people are regularly facing.

Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis, said: “Scotland should be proud that we have some of the best homelessness legislation in the world, but we cannot become complacent. No one, no matter what their circumstance, should be forced to live without basic facilities for prolonged periods of time.

“The Life in Limbo campaign seeks to extend this vital legal protection, a seven-day time-limit on placement in unsuitable temporary accommodation to all homeless people, otherwise we risk having a two-tier system which runs counter to Scotland’s unique right-based approach to protecting people from homelessness.

“The recent announcement of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group, which Crisis warmly welcomes, means the time is ripe to end the anomaly of unsuitable temporary accommodation. This change will make a massive difference and ensure no homeless person is left to languish in unsuitable temporary accommodation.”

Many local authorities have taken great strides to either eliminate or significantly reduce their reliance on unsuitable temporary accommodation. But in some parts of Scotland, including Edinburgh, the Highlands and Aberdeenshire (where there is a shortage of temporary accommodation), local authorities have had to rely more and more on B&Bs to meet their legal duties. Crisis is also calling for all councils who use unsuitable temporary accommodation as part of their housing supply to be required to produce a plan to reduce its use within their area.

Jamie, 41, lived in B&B accommodation in Edinburgh for 14 months, and he said of his experience: “There were three bathrooms, one on each floor, between 14 people and I only had access to the kitchen for three hours throughout the day. Plus, there were cameras everywhere, in the stairs, the lobby, the kitchen.

“There was quite a high turnover of people with addiction or mental health issues, or that had just come out of prison and the different comings and goings of people had a real impact on how I felt in myself. My mental health deteriorated due to the stress. I tried to stick to as normal a routine as I could. Some people slept all day. Boil it all down, its survival mode I suppose you’d say. It’s not enjoying life.”