A mother shares her son’s nine-year struggle with homelessness in Edinburgh temporary housing, impacting his development.
Stacey, 32, felt hopeless watching Archie, now seven, grow up in such conditions. They moved often to different places across the city, placed there by the council. One home was filthy, with urine covering the carpets, and Archie was learning to walk. She often left him with family, desperately wanting a real home.
Stacey said the temporary homes were awful and conditions were often bad. One place had urine on the carpet where Archie crawled, learning to walk. They had to buy carpets, beds, and new couches. Archie was homeless since birth, lasting until last year.
A new report by Shelter Scotland says housing issues hurt kids. Some kids saw a stabbing due to bad housing, and another child got sick because of poor living conditions. Some walk miles to school and then fall asleep in class.
Families spend 234 days in temporary housing, but Edinburgh families spend even longer, averaging 546 days. Stacey said it impacted Archie, who remembers the dirt and moves, and now fears moving again.
Archie asks if she will be there when he wakes, and she always says yes, telling him she is staying put. He stayed with his grandma sometimes, and also with another nanny, because she fought for a home.
Stacey felt the council made her feel worthless, and she wants change for people, stating that no one should suffer this way. Stacey got a home in 2023 provided by the council, but they could not move their things because they lacked a van.
Archie was sad about leaving things behind, including his toys and his favorite desk bed that was high with storage below. Thousands of Scottish children are homeless.
Alison Watson directs Shelter Scotland. She said the nation fails homeless children, and that all kids deserve safe housing. Homelessness should not be traumatic, but 10,360 kids will wake up without homes and their problems seem endless.
Edinburgh City Council may comment later.