Shelter Scotland urge MSPs to back Scottish Parliament housing emergency declaration

Shelter Scotland is urgently calling on MSPs to back a motion in parliament being debated tomorrow (Wednesday 22 November) that Scotland is facing a housing emergency. 

This comes less than three weeks since City of Edinburgh Council declared a housing emergency, with a commitment to delivering an action plan to end it.

The housing and homelessness charity pointed to record numbers of children trapped in temporary accommodation (9,595), 45 children becoming homeless every day and a household becoming homeless every 16 minutes as evidence of a housing emergency across Scotland.

Shelter Scotland Director, Alison Watson, said:

“Scotland’s housing emergency is spiralling out of control: rents are soaring, record numbers of kids have nowhere to call home, more and more people are becoming homeless.

“Tomorrow, the Scottish Parliament must face this harsh reality head-on. This is not business as usual – it's an emergency demanding emergency action.

“Enough is enough, Scotland demands more than just lip service. The time for rhetoric is over; it's time for the Scottish Parliament to declare a housing emergency and commit to real, structural change. This is an opportunity to demonstrate leadership, and show that the people of Scotland are being heard.”