Scottish government must build more than 15,000 affordable homes to combat housing crisis

The Scottish government must deliver more than 15,000 homes a year in the next Parliament to tackle the housing emergency, claims Shelter Scotland.

The housing charity, together with the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) and the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Scotland, has funded a report showing that the government must invest in affordable homes, or the housing crisis will worsen.

The report comes ahead of next year’s Scottish Parliamentary elections.

The devastating reality of Scotland’s housing emergency

According to the report, half of all affordable homes need to be built in the East, with a minimum of 15,693 affordable homes a year required in the next Parliament, a total of 78,465 over five years.

More than 7,860 homes are specifically needed in eastern Scotland to meet social housing demands.

Shelter Scotland Director Alison Watson says these homes must be delivered to tackle the housing emergency.

She said: “This research shows the devastating reality of Scotland’s housing emergency and the decades of underinvestment in housing that have brought us to the point. The need for social housing is increasing and yet Scotland is not building anywhere near enough to meet demand.

“The Cabinet Secretary for Housing recently announced a housing emergency action plan. While there is much to welcome, it falls short on delivering the new social homes needed to stop homelessness rising.

“Scotland needs these new homes for social rent to prevent more families being pushed into poverty, get the 10,180 children out of temporary accommodation and into permanent homes, to stop young people being locked out of secure housing and to protect communities from a broken and biased housing system.  We face a simple choice: invest in the homes we need now or pay the price for generations.

“Scotland cannot afford another lost decade on housing.”

Research is clear that Scotland will need over 15,000 social and affordable homes per year

Richard Meade, SFHA Chief Executive, said: “The announcement of increased long-term funding for the housing budget set out in the Housing Emergency Action Plan is a welcome step in the right direction.

“However, the research is clear that Scotland will need over 15,000 social and affordable homes per year and total public investment of at least £8.2billion over the course of the next parliament. SFHA looks forward to working with the Scottish government and MSPs across parliament to achieve this.

“Housing associations deliver secure, warm, and affordable homes in communities across Scotland, and they could do so much more. And beyond just numbers, these homes must be the right types of homes built in the right places, something which is underlined by the scale of need in the east of Scotland, particularly.

“Ending the housing emergency will not only bring us the number of social homes we need, but it will create a fairer, healthier Scotland, where less children are living in poverty, and where more people have a chance to live well in thriving communities.”