SFHA Welcomes Extra Funding for Fuel Poverty

The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has welcomed an announcement from Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital investment Alex Neil, of a 35% increase in Scottish Government funding for fuel poverty programmes.

David Stewart, SFHA Policy & Strategy Manager, said:

"Fuel poverty is a serious problem affecting at least a third of Scottish households (2) - many of whom are tenants of housing associations and co-operatives.

"As a member of the Fuel Poverty Forum and a long-standing campaigner for action to tackle fuel poverty, the SFHA welcomes this significant extra investment by the Scottish Government in tackling the scourge of fuel poverty. We are also pleased to see the partial reversal of cuts to the programme made in 2010/11, which is welcome in tough financial times.

"In order to properly deal with fuel poverty, Scotland needs a national programme to insulate housing, improve energy efficiency and reduce energy usage that is properly funded."

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For further information, contact Claire Munro on t: 0141 567 6224 m: 07771926778 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) Further information on fuel poverty is available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/warmhomes/fuelpoverty

2) SFHA is a member of the Existing Homes Alliance Scotland, which is calling for:

• A commitment to a National Retrofit Programme
• Investment of at least £100m per year over the next decade in improving the energy
• performance of housing
• The implementation of minimum standards of energy efficiency for existing private
• housing by 2015.
http://www.existinghomesalliance.org.uk/scotland/declaration_scot.php

3) The SFHA was established in 1975 and has around 170 members providing affordable housing and wider community services in Scotland, as well as a further 200 commercial members. The SFHA is owned by its membership and exists to support the work of housing associations and co-operatives in Scotland by providing services, advice and good practice guidance.

4) The SFHA is the voice of the principal builders and managers of new affordable housing for rent in Scotland. Housing Associations own and manage around 40% of the country's affordable rented housing stock, over a quarter of a million homes across Scotland.

5) Housing associations and co-operatives are not-for-profit bodies regulated by the Scottish Housing Regulator.