Shelter Scotland's statement following Programme for Government

Shelter Scotland has issued the following statement after John Swinney announced his programme for government on 1 September.

Gordon Llewellyn-MacRae, Interim Director at Shelter Scotland said: 

“The First Minister today promised to end the use of unsafe and harmful temporary accommodation for children. This is good news. John Swinney has shown that he is listening to the families who delivered a demand for action earlier this week. But promises alone won’t cut it any longer. 

“At Shelter Scotland we look forward to joining the First Minister to celebrate an end to the dangerous, damp, unsafe temporary accommodation too many children in Scotland are still condemned to live in across the country. But today is not that day. 

“Last year he promised to build 8,000 affordable homes – it didn’t happen. Now, a year since the Scottish Government published its Housing Emergency Action Plan, we still don’t have a credible plan to deliver the social homes that can actually lift people out of homelessness.  

“So he will understand why we will hold off the celebrations until the urgent change we need is a reality. 

“Scotland’s communities cannot afford rhetoric without results. When government fails to deliver, it creates an environment where racist voices become louder, seeking to divide communities and strip housing rights away from people instead of addressing the real cause: a lack of social homes.  

“For the families spending tonight stuck in temporary accommodation, another promise isn’t enough - they need change. John Swinney must now back up good intentions with action.” 

ENDS