Shelter Scotland responds to the UK budget

Shelter Scotland has responded to the UK budget set out this afternoon by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

The housing and homelessness charity urged the Scottish Government to commit to investing any new capital funding into delivering the social homes needed to end the housing emergency. 

However, it also expressed disappointment at the continuation of the two-child limit and ongoing freeze to Local Housing Allowance.

Shelter Scotland Director, Alison Watson, said:

“Having declared a housing emergency it’s clear that the Scottish Government must back words with actions.

“It is vital that any capital funding which becomes available as a result of the Chancellor’s investment plans is in turn used by Scottish Ministers to deliver social homes here, but we also need to see growth in the capital budget over a sustained period to support continued investment.

“Delivering more social homes remains the single most effective way to tackle the housing emergency in Scotland, and only the Scottish Government can decide how much of its budget it commits to that endeavour. 

“However, we can’t ignore the role that austerity has played in exacerbating Scotland’s housing emergency.

“The freeze on local housing allowance and the two-child limit has forced thousands into poverty; they will continue to do so as it seems the Chancellor has chosen to keep them in place.”