SFHA Launches Manifesto for 2011 Scottish Elections

Scotland's housing associations are more than just landlords - helping Scotland to create jobs, support vulnerable individuals, and tackle climate change... the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) said today  (15th February), launching it's manifesto for the 2011 Scottish parliamentary elections.

The manifesto brings together fantastic examples of valuable housing associations projects all over Scotland - from Ayrshire Housing's restoration of Ayr Cathedral for housing, creating at least 50 jobs in the local economy, to Cube Housing Association's combined heat and power project which will tackle fuel poverty and cut energy usage.

Called Building, Supporting, Regenerating: Housing, the manifesto calls for a sustained commitment to affordable housing in Scotland.

The manifesto was launched at the SFHA's development conference in Dunblane, where representatives of the Federation's three development forums (East, West, and Tayside, Grampian & Fife) joined SFHA CEO Mary Taylor and Chair Lorna Paterson to highlight the need for election candidates to prioritise affordable housing.

SFHA Chief Executive Mary Taylor said:

". It's essential that candidates in the forthcoming Holyrood elections recognise the central role that affordable housing plays in many communities, and the ability of Scotland's housing associations and co-operatives to deliver solutions to problems - whether that's providing housing, creating jobs and apprenticeships, tackling climate change, or looking after the elderly and the vulnerable.

"Affordable housing providers in Scotland are facing many challenges - with big cuts in capital funding to build new homes, and a squeeze on the incomes of our tenants, due to welfare reform changes and the difficult jobs market.

"Our members are more than landlords, as our manifesto demonstrates, with examples of outstanding work in communities across Scotland."

At the launch, John McLeish, of Melville Housing Association and Chair of the SFHA's East Region Development Forum said:

"With a growing population, and already experiencing significant housing shortages across both urban and rural areas, the east of Scotland faces a growing challenge to provide enough much-needed affordable housing. The importance of good quality affordable housing should never be underestimated and we urge the Scottish Government to continue to invest in new housing development, to support the economy and help meet the increasing need in the east of Scotland."

Andy Woodburn of Queens Cross Housing Association and Secretary to the SFHA West of Scotland Development Forum said:

"With job losses and changes to benefits likely to result in increased homelessness, it is essential that the Scottish Government provides sufficient investment in affordable housing at this critical time. Housing Associations in the west of Scotland have demonstrated their ability to ensure new homes provide wider social and economic benefits, and must be properly supported to continue their valuable work."

Graeme Keillor, Project Manager at Hillcrest Housing Association in Dundee said:

"Tayside, Grampian and Fife encompasses a range of property markets, all experiencing increased demand for social housing at a time of reducing subsidy and supply. Hillcrest, as a member of the Tayside, Grampian and Fife Development Forum, regards investment in housing as the key to delivering housing supply. It is only through investing in affordable housing that we can provide a permanent social asset and produce short term employment and training opportunities.

"Over the last eight years, Hillcrest's apprenticeship training scheme alone has provided about 100 young people with apprenticeships in the Tayside area. Such levels of training must be maintained to provide the appropriate resources for the future of our construction industry in Tayside and in Scotland as a whole.

A copy of the SFHA's election manifesto is available for download at SFHA Election Manifesto 2011

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