Shelter Scotland welcomes Jim Strang to committee and board

Shelter Scotland has welcomed social housing veteran Jim Strang to its committee, where he will bring decades of experience to the charity’s ongoing fight for home. 

Mr Strang has worked for more than 40 years in the housing sector and currently serves as the chair of Riverside Scotland. 

His career started with Glasgow City Council in 1978 where he worked on the delivery of housing services before moving on to become Group Chief Executive of Parkhead housing Association in 2007.

Having retired from full time employment in 2020, he has continued to be actively involved in the housing sector, where he served on the board of organisations including Ferguslie Park Housing Association and the Homelessness Network Scotland. 

As well as joining the Scotland Committee, Mr Strang will also join the UK wide Shelter Board of Trustees.

Mr Strang said: 

“I’m really looking forward to being part of the Shelter family and doing what I can to tackle homelessness.”

Shelter Scotland Committee Chair, Kezia Dugdale, added:

“I’m delighted to welcome Jim to the Shelter Scotland Committee, and I’m pleased that we will benefit from his extensive knowledge of the housing sector.

“Jim brings with him unparalleled professional experience in Scottish housing which will be invaluable for us as we continue to fight for an end to the housing emergency. 

“With a brutal cost-of-living crisis bearing down on communities across the country, our work has never been more important, and I look forward to Jim’s important contributions.”

Director of Shelter Scotland, Alison Watson, also said:

“Shelter Scotland’s ongoing fight for home is as pressing as ever, so I’m incredibly grateful to Jim for agreeing to join our committee and give us the benefit of his years of experience.

“Communities across Scotland are suffering in the grip of a housing emergency brought about by decades of underinvestment in social housing. It is shameful that thousands of households across the country, including thousands of children, are trapped in temporary accommodation.  

“The cost-of-living crisis is stretching incomes beyond breaking point; the problem will only get worse unless there is serious and urgent change. With Jim’s help we will continue to fight for a future where everyone in Scotland has a safe, permanent, comfortable home.”

ENDS