As the election nears, celebrity designers Colin and Justin and TV presenter Jenni Falconer have joined forces with Shelter Scotland to urge the public to help lobby prospective politicians to take the housing crisis seriously.

The TV design gurus, who recently completed their 'Colin and Justin on the Estate' programme about housing in Glasgow and the entertainment presenter for GMTV, are urging the public to help the charity reach its target of sending out 30,000 'It's time to get a move in' stickers before the election - the number of new homes needed to ease the strain on Scotland's housing market.

The public are being urged to log onto www.shelter.org.uk/sticker and order their sticker in support of the charity's call for 30,000 new affordable rented homes for Scotland over the next three years [1].

The charity has already sent out over 27,000 stickers to people across Scotland - destined for front doors up and down the country to show prospective politicians the support for Shelter Scotland's campaign.

Shelter Scotland - along with other housing organisations [2] - is calling on the Scottish Executive to fund 30,000 homes over three years (2008-11). 2007 presents the best opportunity to significantly invest in housing through this year's comprehensive spending review.

The additional funding for such a programme would cost less than 1 per cent of the total Scottish budget.

Colin and Justin, celebrity designers, who helped launch the charity's campaign earlier this year, said today: 'Scotland's housing crisis cannot be allowed to continue. It touches everyone - from ordinary families trying to get on the housing ladder, to the hundreds of thousands on waiting lists or stuck in temporary accommodation.

'There's so much pressure for everyone to get onto the property ladder but why should that be people's only access to good quality housing? As adults we like to have choice in our life and we want people to be able to have choice with their housing.'

Adding: 'With just a few weeks to go until the election, order your sticker from www.shelter.org.uk/sticker , and put it on your door to show prospective politicians that you believe Scotland needs 30,000 affordable homes for rent.'

Jenni Falconer, entertainment presenter for GMTV, said: 'Ordinary families, key workers and first time buyers are faced with staggering house prices that are often out of their price range. We need to make sure that people are given real choices, and that means investing in Scotland's housing future. Order your sticker at www.shelter.org.uk/sticker and register your support for Shelter's housing call.'

Archie Stoddart, director of housing and homelessness charity, said: 'Politicians must take the need for more affordable homes for rent seriously if we are to ensure that we can house Scotland's people. Newspaper stories of young people being forced to 'rent out' a sofa, or queue for days in snow to get a house shows the strain this crisis is putting on real people. Help us show how important this is and order your sticker today.'

Notes to Editors

1. Shelter Scotland, along with other housing organisations, is calling for 30,000 affordable rented homes for Scotland through this year's comprehensive spending review. For more information visit the media room at www.shelter.org.uk/csr_media  
2. Shelter Scotland, the Chartered Institute of Housing, Scottish Churches Housing Action and the Scottish Council for Single Homeless recently submitted their call for 30,000 homes to the Scottish Executive. To read the whole paper, visit the media room at www.shelter.org.uk/csr_media  
3. Shelter believes everyone should have a home and helps 170,000 people a year fight for their rights, get back on their feet, and find and keep a home. We also tackle the root causes of Britain's housing crisis by campaigning for new laws, policies and solutions.
4. Spokespeople are available for interview, telephone the media office on 0844 515 2442. An ISDN line is available for broadcast interviews.
5. For more information about Shelter visit www.shelter.org.uk