All levels of government have a duty to act on housing emergency says Shelter Scotland

A leading housing and homelessness charity has said all levels of government have a responsibility to address the housing emergency, including the next UK Government.

While housing is devolved to Holyrood, Shelter Scotland has called on candidates in the upcoming UK general election to acknowledge the reality of Scotland’s Housing Emergency and act in three key areas to end it.

The charity urged the next UK Government to; reform benefits to ensure they keep pace with housing costs, end the ‘hostile environment’ and adequately fund councils to ensure they can meet the housing needs.

The charity urged the next UK Government to:

• Reform benefits to ensure they keep with housing costs.

• End the ‘hostile environment' and ensure councils have the funding necessary to meet the housing needs of refugees and people seeking asylum.

• Increase the capital grant to Scotland to protect future housing budgets and invest in public services to ensure growing demand on homelessness services is met.

Shelter Scotland Director, Alison Watson, said:

“Scotland’s housing emergency is devastating communities across the country. It demands an urgent response from all levels of government, including the next UK Government.

“More than a decade of austerity has left wages and benefits lagging far behind the real cost housing. Far too many people continue to have to choose between heating their homes, feeding their families, and keeping a roof over their head; that’s something the next UK Government needs to swiftly address.

“For a long time now, cruelty has been at the heart of the UK’s policy towards people fleeing violence and persecution. The hostile environment has divided our communities and undermined councils’ ability to deliver the homes we all need. The next government has a chance to adopt a truly anti-racist approach to migration and asylum, embedding dignity and humanity into policymaking. 

“Finally, it’s vital that the next UK Government ensures that the capital grant to Scotland keeps pace with inflation so that future housing budgets can be properly protected.

“We continue to live with the consequences of political decisions made in the 80s, and the decisions made by politicians today will have ramifications far into the future. When it comes to housing, there’s no room for error.”