Shelter Scotland responds to First Minister's announcement on housing

A leading housing and homelessness charity has responded to the First Minister’s announcement today on housing supply.

Shelter Scotland urged the First Minister to make social homes the ‘bedrock’ of his plan to tackle homelessness and child poverty.

While it welcomed the restoration of a portion of the funding, the charity stressed that the housing budget had still faced a significant cut at a time when investment was urgently needed.

Shelter Scotland Director, Alison Watson, said:

“When the Scottish Government cut the housing budget earlier this year, we made no secret of our dismay and, indeed, our anger that such a decision could be taken during a devastating housing emergency.

“While I’m pleased that today the First Minister has committed to restoring a portion of that lost funding, the housing budget has still suffered an enormous cut at a time when social housing desperately needs significant investment.

“If the First Minister is committed to a ‘reset’ then he should take that opportunity to make social housing the bedrock of a plan to tackle homelessness and child poverty.

“Delivering social housing builds a better, fairer, Scotland; we’ll continue to urge the Scottish Government to demonstrate its commitment to that vision.”

ENDS