Scotland is staring into a housing abyss with fewer social rented homes than it had 50 years ago, according to a stark report published today (Friday) by leading housing and homelessness charity, Shelter Scotland.
The charity’s shocking new report Building Pressure, [1] which lays bare the growing chasm between the number of homes needed and the number available, launches Shelter Scotland’s campaign for a serious cash hike for housing from next year’s budget.
Shelter Scotland will unveil the new report at an event today (Friday) in Blairgowrie – where Finance Secretary John Swinney’s constituency office is located.
The report shows:
- There are fewer social homes for rent than at any time since 1959. Much of that decline has been as a result of Right to Buy. Since 1998 alone, 135,000 homes have been sold through Right to Buy.
- The number of council homes available to let has fallen dramatically. In 2001, there were 3.9 people on council waiting lists for every let. By 2008, this had risen to 6.6.
- At current rates it would take almost seven years to find a house for everyone already on housing waiting lists.
- The number of people stuck in temporary accommodation – often expensive accommodation provided to people who are homeless – has soared by 135 per cent between 2001 and 2008. This means there are at least 17,000 people (including 7,000 children) in temporary housing – almost enough to fill Tynecastle Stadium in Edinburgh.
- By 2008, despite house price inflation falling off, it was still 16 per cent harder for a first time buyer to buy a home than it was in 2001 [2].
The Blairgowrie event kicks off Shelter Scotland’s new summer campaign, Countdown to 2012 and is the first in a three-month tour of Scotland. The campaign will also feature online at scotland.shelter.org.uk/campaign and social networking sites, where people can sign up and put pressure on politicians to build more homes.
The campaign aims to secure a commitment from the Scottish Government to fund 30,000 affordable rented homes by 2012 – the deadline for Scotland’s internationally acclaimed homelessness legislation to give everyone a home. [3]
Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, said: ‘The Building Pressure report lays bare the chasm between the number of homes needed and the number available to house Scotland’s people. People are losing their jobs and their homes, piling pressure on a system already at breaking point. It’s a crisis that’s built up over time and can only be solved by building more homes.
‘The Scottish Government’s medicine – of bringing forward cash from next year’s budget -is welcome but the doses of cash for housing overall are inadequate. Last year’s budget fell short of Shelter Scotland and other housing experts’ projection of what we need to end the housing crisis. We cannot afford to make the same mistake in 2009. Scotland’s people, its reputation, and its recovery, depend on tough funding decisions and decisive action.’
Notes to editors
- You can download a copy of the report here.
- Shelter’s annual Roof Affordability Index published April 2009
- The 2012 homelessness target will give all unintentionally homeless people the right to a permanent home, under Scottish legislation. Currently, only people designated to be in ‘priority need’ – generally families with children – have the right to permanent homes. All others have access to only temporary accommodation and support. By 2012, there will be no distinction and everyone will have the right to a home. You can read about the last Shelter report on the target here.
- Shelter believes everyone should have a home and helps 170,000 people a year fight for their rights, get back on their feet, and find and keep a home. We also tackle the root causes of Britain’s housing crisis by campaigning for new laws, policies and solutions.
- Spokespeople are available for interview, telephone the media office on 0844 515 2442. An ISDN line number is available for broadcast interviews.
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