23 February 2007
At least 30,000 affordable homes for rent are needed in Scotland over three years, housing organisations have told the Scottish Executive.
In a joint submission ahead of this year's Comprehensive Spending Review, Shelter Scotland, the Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland, the Scottish Campaign for Single Homeless and Scottish Churches Housing Action say the extra cost of the programme would be £750m over the period 2008—11. But they argue that it would generate £780m in private finance.
Failure to meet the need for new affordable homes will create considerable difficulties, the submission warns: 'Legal obligations as regards homelessness will be under pressure, social polarisation by tenure and neighbourhood will intensify and opportunities to provide low-cost homes as part of mixed neighbourhoods will remain out of reach.'
Shelter Scotland director Archie Stoddart said: 'Without 30,000 affordable rented homes by 2012… we will continue to see thousands of people stuck on waiting lists or in temporary housing.'
PFfeb2007