SFHA Welcomes Extra Funds for Housing Associations, but Austere Times Ahead

The SFHA has welcomed the Scottish Government's announcement at the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA)'s annual conference that extra money will be allocated to housing association projects this year.

Dr Mary Taylor, CEO of the SFHA said:

"The SFHA was pleased to welcome Housing and Transport Minister Keith Brown to our annual conference. We welcome his announcement that funding for new build affordable homes this year (through the Innovation and Investment Fund) has been doubled and that housing associations will receive the lion's share of the new money - £40m out of £56.7m

"This demonstrates the strenuous efforts made by associations and co-operatives to submit bids this year, and also shows that the Scottish Government has recognised what they can bring to the table in terms of additional private finance, and genuine long-term regeneration for communities.

"However, the overall budget is still falling and it will be very difficult to deliver the required number of new affordable homes in the years to come, especially at an austere grant rate of £40,000 per unit.

"We welcome the Minister's admission that the terms of the fund may have to change in the future and very much look forward to sitting down with him to discuss a way forward."

ends

 

 

For further information, contact Claire Munro on 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) A detailed breakdown of the successful bids to the Innovation and Investment Fund are available on the Scottish Government website:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/investment/innovationfund

2) 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.

3) 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.

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

< Prev		Next >