Review of Affordable Housing in Scotland

SCSH comment

Minister for Communities, Margaret Curran MSP, today announced the findings from a comprehensive review of the housing market in Scotland

Commenting on the review, SCSH Director, Robert Aldridge said:

"Whilst we always welcome additional resources for affordable housing this announcement barely scratches the surface of the real problem area - the lack of decent quality rented accommodation in the social sector.

The Executive's research states that only one third of the unmet need can be addressed through initiatives relating to low cost home ownership. The main thrust of the announcement is aimed at that one third of the problem.

A recent survey conducted by the Scottish council for Single Homeless shows a need to build around 12,000 new social rented homes each year. The Executive currently funds around 6000. Even if the entire £20 million announced today were to be spent on social rented housing it would only build another 300 - 400 homes each year.

If homelessness and acute housing need in Scotland are to be tackled effectively there is a need for greater investment in rented housing, not only to bridge the gap, but also to demolish and replace old, damp council housing which is past its 'live by' date."

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• SCSH is the national membership organisation for individuals and organisations working with homeless people.
• Since the turn of the year, the Executive has been carrying out a wide-ranging review of affordable housing in Scotland .  The review has examined the functioning of the Scottish housing market and its impact on housing affordability; assessed affordable housing requirements; and considered measures to improve supply and affordability; and ways to address the imbalances between supply and requirements in local areas. 
• Robert Aldridge is Director of SCSH. He is a member of the Homelessness Monitoring Group, Health & Homelessness Steering Group and the Supporting People Stakeholders. He was previously a member of the Scottish Executive's Homelessness Task Force as well as the Rough Sleepers' Initiative Advisory Group.