Shelter Scotland and IKEA launch tool to expose housing crisis

A housing charity and a retailer have teamed up to tackle Scotland’s housing crisis.

In a new partnership, Shelter Scotland and IKEA have launched a digital interactive tool that allows the public to provide MSPs with a local snapshot of the housing emergency and its impact.

The news comes as John Swinney, leader of the SNP, was re-elected First Minister after his party won the most seats at the Scottish Parliament election.

MSPs must prioritise the housing emergency

The tool will allow members of the public to connect directly with their MSPs within the first 100 days and tell them exactly what the emergency looks like in their area, while also giving MSPs the chance to explain what they plan to do over the next five years.

Through interactive maps on the Shelter Scotland website, people can access local housing and homelessness data and share it with their MSPs via email.

Shelter Scotland director, Alison Watson, said: “The first 100 days of a new parliament are a significant moment, and the public have the power to tell new MSPs they must prioritise the housing emergency.

“With 10,480 children trapped in temporary accommodation and social house building at a record low, politicians must make the choice to deliver the social homes Scotland desperately needs.”

She added: “It has been two years since a national housing emergency was declared yet we have record numbers of children without a place to call home and social house building has plummeted.

“This is the consequence of the political choice to keep social housing scarce, and we need new money and a new approach from politicians if they are serious about ending homelessness.

“With this innovative new tool in partnership with IKEA, people have a direct way to tell their MSP what the housing emergency looks like on their doorstep, while giving MSPs the knowledge and data they need to understand the true scale of the housing emergency in their area.”

Social housing plays a vital role

Mostafa El Garaa, acting CEO at IKEA UK and Ireland, added: “At IKEA, we believe that having a safe, secure home is the foundation for a better everyday life yet, for too many people across Scotland, that foundation simply doesn’t exist. Social housing plays a vital role in creating stability and opportunity.

“By making it easier for people to share their views and experiences, we hope to drive awareness, urgency and, ultimately, action to increase the supply of genuinely affordable homes and create lasting change.”