SFHA Welcomes Christie Report on Public Services

The work of housing associations and co-operatives work should be at the heart of the new preventative approach to delivering public services

recommended by the Christie Commission in its report launched today (Wednesday 29th June 2011), the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA).

The SFHA is calling for a focus on adapting housing for special needs and developing the ‘wider role' community activities of housing associations and co-operatives, which are important community-based, third sector organisations.

SFHA CEO Mary Taylor said:

"The SFHA welcomes the publication of the Christie Commission's report on public service delivery, with its strong message of investing now, in a preventative approach. The SFHA and its members know we need to invest in our communities to improve not just housing but employment, health, education and social outcomes.

"Statements made in the report on ‘services built around people and communities' highlight the value of the work of housing associations and co-operatives.

"As not-for-profit social enterprises which provide a range of services, including housing for specialist need, housing associations and co-operatives are ideally placed to deliver this. Investing more in housing adaptations, for example, is one failsafe way the government can help older people and others to stay in their homes, while saving millions on hospital admission costs. Another is to continue to fund housing associations and co-ops to provide "wider role" services to their tenants. "

Dr Taylor added:

"In our submission to the Commission SFHA we emphasised the need for the Scottish Government to prioritise preventative spending, and demonstrated how housing associations and co-operatives can be part of the solution. That's the strong message coming out of the commission's report and the SFHA now adds its voice to the growing call for the Scottish Government to move further towards a genuine invest-to-save approach.

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For further information, contact Press and Public Affairs Manager Claire Munro on t: 0141 567 6244 m: 07771 926778 or e: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Visit our website at www.sfha.co.uk

NOTES:

1) You can read SFHA submission to the Christie Commission here

2) Read the full report of the Commission on the Delivery of Public Services here