Shelter Scotland calls on government to build 15,000 new social homes

Shelter Scotland has announced the launch of its ‘Delivering Homes, Delivering Rights’ plan, which calls for the Scottish government to end the inequality in the housing system.

The housing charity is also demanding the Scottish government build more than 15,000 social homes a year.

The news comes after a poll by YouGov and commissioned by Shelter Scotland reveal 88% of adults believe the development of new affordable homes is important for Scotland.

Failure to deal with the backlog of homelessness

Shelter Scotland Director Alison Watson said: “The devastating reality of Scotland’s persistent housing emergency is that we are still seeing the consequences of the failure to deal with the backlog of homelessness. Our research shows the public wants real action on housing.

“As we look towards the Scottish election in May next year, Shelter Scotland is urging all politicians to commit to urgently delivering the social homes we so desperately need and protect the rights that keep people safe. Thousands of children across Scotland are currently stuck in temporary accommodation, denied the stability that a permanent home provides, and there’s a real risk that situation could deteriorate even further.

“We need our politicians to step up and deliver a future where everyone in Scotland has their right to safe, permanent, home upheld. We can’t afford another lost generation on housing.”

Build at least 15,693 new social homes each year

The poll by YouGov reveals that 66% of adults in Scotland say they know little or nothing at all about their housing rights.

In its delivery plan, Shelter Scotland is calling on the Scottish government to end systemic inequality in the housing system and to uphold and enforce housing rights, with no rollback on existing protections.

The charity urges the government to make use of existing housing stock to tackle the backlog of homelessness.

Shelter Scotland is also demanding that the Scottish government build at least 15,693 new social homes each year, backed by an £8.8 billion investment, and make urgent progress on establishing a National Housing and Land Agency. This agency would bring forward publicly owned land for social housing and oversee skills, training, and planning.