Shelter Scotland urges ministers to ‘think again’ after housing emergency U-turn

A leading housing and homelessness charity has warned ministers that they risk ignoring the will of the Scottish Parliament after the Scottish Government confirmed it would not produce a housing emergency action plan.

A motion passed at Holyrood in May called on ministers to bring forward an urgent action plan to tackle the housing emergency, with Cabinet Secretary Shirley-Anne Sommerville confirming that the government would bring forward a plan.

In response to a written question at Holyrood, Housing Minister Paul McLennan has now confirmed the Scottish Government will U-turn on that commitment and instead press on with existing plans.

Shelter Scotland Director, Alison Watson, said:

“Three weeks ago, every political party in the Scottish Parliament accepted there was a national housing emergency. MSPs backed a motion which promised to deliver an urgent action plan including ‘actions that will reduce the number of children stuck in temporary accommodation by the end of this parliamentary session’.  Ministers have now indicated that they do not intend to follow through on that promise, defying the will of Parliament and risking all credibility on the issue.

“There are nearly 10,000 children in Scotland with nowhere to call home, record numbers are trapped in temporary accommodation, and local homelessness services are either broken or breaking under the weight of ever growing demand; the current strategy is failing and proposals like those in the Housing Bill will not come into force for many years to come.

“Parliament has told the Scottish Government it needs to act and act now. The Cabinet Secretary said she would act. They must think again and deliver on the promise they made.”