THE NUMBER of potentially homeless households in Dundee has soared over the last decade, according to new Executive figures.

But Dundee City Council insisted that a 28-fold rise in the number of households assessed as being potentially homeless was down to a change in recording procedures rather than a massive increase in actual cases.

The report states that in 1996/97 there were just 15 Dundee households found to be at risk of homelessness while the figure for 2005/06 had soared to 428.

In the same period, the comparable statistics for Aberdeen saw the numbers fall greatly from 565 potentially homeless households to 24 last year.

A potentially homeless household is defined as one in which an individual is likely to be on the streets within two months. As in the case of homeless individuals, the local authority has a responsibility to take reasonable steps to ensure the individual retains their present accommodation.

The report says 1516 homeless applications were made to Dundee City Council in the nine months to September 2006. In Angus the figure was 1028, Perth and Kinross had 766 applications, and Fife 3297.

In December, there were 168 households in temporary accommodation in Dundee. Most had been placed in social sector housing although some were staying in bed and breakfasts or hostel premises.

Of the total, 96 involved pregnant women, and 177 children were in homeless accommodation in Dundee in late 2006.

The figures also show some 15 people a month come to Dundee City Council after spending a night living rough on the streets.

Reacting to the report, housing convener Councillor George Regan said the authority took its responsibilities to the homeless seriously.

“We want to do everything we can to help people who, for various reasons, find themselves homeless.

“However… changes in legislation have meant increased demand for our services, with more people seeking help from the council leading to increased pressure on the accommodation we can offer.

“In Dundee, we take our obligations to the homeless seriously. That is why we have adopted a new comprehensive policy to help us fulfil our duties and provide assistance to people who find themselves homeless.

“We have a range of temporary accommodation, including a network of furnished properties, but we need to increase what is available and there are proposals in the pipeline to help us achieve this.”

James Jopling, head of campaigns at Shelter Scotland, said, “The figures for households threatened with homelessness could suggest a number of things—for instance it means the council are identifying the problem of homelessness before it actually happens.

“Our view would always be that preventing homelessness is always preferable to it happening at all.

“We are concerned, however, that people are being turned away and forced to sleep rough because the council is unable to provide temporary accommodation to all who need it. Dundee Council still has some way to go in providing an effective homelessness service.”

A city council spokes- person said the rise in the potentially homeless in Dundee was due to changes in both recording procedure and national legislation.

“The increased figure over the 10-year period 1996 to 2006 is due to different recording systems. Also, recent changes in legislation have widened the scope of the council’s homeless duties with temporary accommodation having to be provided to people who previously would have received only advice and assistance.”