New Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) statistics from the Scottish Government reveal the “shocking scale” of people struggling to pay housing costs, according to Shelter Scotland.

Figures released yesterday show that local authorities made around 116,000 awards under the DHP scheme during 2015/16, with a total value of £49.2 million.

Between April 2015 and March 2016, local authorities received around 127,000 applications to the scheme, which provides financial assistance towards housing costs for those claiming housing benefit. By the end of March 2016, around 125,000 of these claims had been processed and over 116,000 awards were granted. The average payment made was around £425.

Adam Lang, head of communications and policy at housing and homelessness charity Shelter Scotland, said the figures show the desperate, daily struggle faced by tens of thousands of households across Scotland.

He said: “That 116,000 awards were made to help people pay for their homes is good news, but it is shocking that so many families and individuals could not afford to cover their housing costs in the first place and just goes to show the true extent of Scotland’s housing crisis.

“We urge every local authority to do all they can to help as many people as possible as a matter of urgency and anyone struggling to pay their rent to apply for help that is available. Failure to do so would mean that some people would face the very real threat of mounting rent arrears, eviction and homelessness.”

Adam Lang added: “To meaningfully tackle Scotland’s housing crisis, the new Scottish Government needs to ensure that at least 12,000 affordable homes are built each year for the lifetime of this parliament.”