30.03.1995

Seize empty houses

ACCORDING to the housing charity Shelter, 852 people became homeless in Dundee in 1993-4. The general picture is that 25% are under 24. They leave home because of domestic problems. In 1991 at least 10,000 young men in Scotland ended up homeless in London, indicating that there are no answers to their problems to be found in Scotland, particularly jobs.

With the older age group, eviction by private landlords or mortgage arrears are the usual cause.

Dundee council has a brilliant policy for boosting the homelessness figures: when people cannot afford their rent, the council evicts them. Just like any private landlord with only profit in mind and no social responsibilities.

Dundee has surplus housing, but 80% of tenants want to live in only 20% of the stock, because the rest is so dilapidated.

Shelter says that a net increase of only one percent on the annual budget could totally eliminate homelessness in Scotland.

The Communist Party says everybody has the right to good quality housing. If the council says it cannot afford this basic need, empty houses and the second homes of the rich should be occupied by the working class to house the homeless.

Phil Kent