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Call for commitment to building 53,000 affordable Scottish homes


By Ali Morrison

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Affordable housing under construction in Elgin.
Affordable housing under construction in Elgin.

HOUSING and homelessness organisations are calling on a commitment to delivering 53,000 affordable homes over the next Scottish Parliament.

The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA), Shelter Scotland, and the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Scotland have released a new report into housing need in Scotland between 2021-2026 which finds that increasing affordable housing supply levels from the current target of 50,000 homes a year to 53,000 will help reduce housing need, tackle child poverty and kick-start the country’s economic recovery from the coronavirus crisis.

SFHA chief executive, Sally Thomas acknowledged progress the Scottish Government has made regarding housing need in Scotland since 2015 towards meeting the existing 50,000 target before the programme was paused due to the pandemic.

She added: "Committing to this new target, and building affordable housing, must be at the heart of Scotland’s recovery as part of a government and public sector-led approach, ensuring everyone has the home they need and, at the same time, giving confidence to full-scale economic renewal."

The academic study 'Affordable Housing Need in Scotland Post-2021' is a follow up to research produced five years ago which informed the Scottish Government’s current programme, which was on track before the pandemic hit.

National director for CIH Scotland, Callum Chomczuk, pointed out that a return to 'normal' will not be possible after lockdown.

He said: "We need to use our experience to build back better, with an ambitious plan for affordable housing at the heart of Scotland’s recovery. Politicians must recognise that we can choose to end homelessness, to end poverty in this country, and give everyone the right foundation for safe, secure life."

Director of Shelter Scotland, Alison Watson, claimed the research demonstrates that Scotland faces a significant backlog from years of under-investment in affordable and social housing.

She said: "The current affordable housing programme has brought security and stability to tens of thousands of people and hope to all who need social housing. To right the wrongs of the past, and to help our economy and communities recover from the pandemic, we must keep building."



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