Ongoing consequences of brutal back-to-back funding cuts, leading homelessness charity warns

Latest housing delivery statistics show the ongoing consequences of two years of funding cuts in the face of Scotland's housing emergency, a leading homelessness charity has said.

Figures released today show completions for new social homes have declined in 2024 compared to the previous year - with new social housing delivery remaining significantly below its 2022 peak. This followed back-to-back cuts in 2023/24 and 2024/25 which reduced the affordable homes budget by 37%.

Shelter Scotland has warned that this failure to provide adequate numbers of social homes is leaving thousands of children trapped in temporary accommodation. The charity's recent In Their Own Words report highlighted the serious impact this has on children's safety, health and education.

Shelter Scotland Director, Alison Watson said:

“The sustained decline in the number of social homes being built means 10,360 children remain trapped in, often unsuitable temporary accommodation across Scotland.

“There are thousands of families waiting for a permanent home and the Scottish Government need to target funding in areas with the highest need.

“We can see some positive movement in the number of social homes being approved and started, however, this simply isn’t good enough if the housing minister wants to meet his target of 110,000 new affordable homes by 2032.

“This is the direct consequence of tightening the housing budget, which we warned would impact thousands of children and families in the homeless system.”