Building solutions: Shelter Scotland's submission to the Budget 2010-11

'Building solutions' is Shelter Scotland's submission in advance of Scottish Budget which goes to Parliament in the autumn of 2009. It follows our earlier report, 'Building pressure' in which we described the increasing difficulties in gaining access to housing.

–The Scottish Budget is a landmark budget for housing policy: it will set out plans through to 2012-13, the year in which the internationally-acclaimed homelessness commitment – to offer all homeless people a permanent home – has to be met.

– There is already significant pressure in the Scottish housing system, shown by rising house waiting lists, fewer lets becoming available and far greater numbers of people stuck in temporary accommodation.

– Housing tops the list of issues on which MSPs get letters or representation at surgeries.

– Scotland needs 10,000 affordable rented homes a year for the next three years – 30,000 in all – in order to meet both its homelessness commitment and address the backlog of people on house waiting lists.

– A programme of 10,000 homes per year – built by both Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) and councils – would cost an extra £200 million a year on top of what is already in the Budget for 2009-10.

– This additional £200 million we are calling for each year is around 0.6 per cent of the Scottish Budget.

– However, based on existing plans the budget for affordable housing is due to decline by 30 per cent in 2010-11 as a result of earlier decisions to 'front-load' spending in 2008-09 and 2009-10.

– Some of the additional money could be found within existing budgets: for example, from re-assigning some of the money allocated to low cost home ownership schemes. However, extra money is also needed to come into the housing budget.

– A programme of this scale would have significant spin-off effects:
1. A dramatic reduction in the use of costly temporary accommodation;
2. £331 million a year in additional funding through private finance.
3. Around 16,000 jobs sustained in construction and supplier industries;
4. A range of less easily quantifiable impacts: better health, improved participation in education and stronger communities.

– In the year of Homecoming Scotland celebrates its achievements in the world. The 2012 homelessness commitment is an achievement that is rightly lauded internationally and the eyes of the world are on us in this period.

– The Budget should be a Budget for Homes.