 The Scottish Executive has pledged to end homelessness by 2012 |
More than 6,000 families are being evicted from their home each year, according to a housing charity. Research by Shelter Scotland found that 1,625 households were evicted by local authority and registered social landlords in 2004-05.
However, 4,441 households said they were made homeless by the loss of their private sector tenancy in that period.
Shelter has called on people in Scotland to back its Home Is campaign to ensure everyone is housed by 2012.
The campaign aims to collect at least 5,000 quotes on what home means to the people of Scotland, to highlight its importance to politicians.
Shelter's study found that in 2004-05, 1,553 households "abandoned" their tenancy during the course of legal action.
The charity said abandoning a house was common among those who have been ordered to leave their home rather than face being "formally" evicted.
Archie Stoddart, the charity's director, said: "Each year thousands of families are evicted, often through no fault of their own.
"As Scotland moves towards the homelessness target of 2012, and giving everyone the right to a home, we need to make sure people are protected from unnecessary or avoidable evictions."
'Alcohol problems'
The Scottish Executive has pledged to end homelessness by 2012.
The guarantee came as part of the Homelessness (Scotland) Act 2003, which abolished the "priority need" test and gave everyone an equal right to a house.
David Petrie MSP, the Scottish Conservatives' communities spokesman, said: "These figures demonstrate that the executive is failing those it claims to care about the most.
"For many vulnerable people, particularly those suffering from drug or alcohol problems, it is vital that a support system of care is in place for their entry into accommodation, and especially to ensure their children are protected.
"Even worse than today's statistics are the figures we have for households living in temporary accommodation in Scotland, which has almost doubled since 1999."
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We need to make sure people are protected from unnecessary or avoidable evictions
