We must build more social homes, SNP conference told
SFHA were joined by Child Poverty Action Group at a packed-out fringe meeting at this week’s SNP conference.
As part of this week’s SNP conference in Aberdeen, Sally Thomas, SFHA CEO, chaired a fringe meeting that focused on why delivering more social homes is crucial to tackling child poverty.
Speaking just a couple of hours before the First Minister’s headline speech, SFHA were joined by John Dickie, Director of Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland, Craig Stirrat, CEO of Grampian Group and Ben MacPherson MSP, former Social Security Minister.
The First Minister has described lowering child poverty as his ‘defining mission’.
Sally Thomas told SNP members and journalists that, “With one in four children living in poverty we have to look at all the levers we can. Social homes are a crucial part of reducing and addressing poverty. Social housing protects against poverty. Poverty is lower where we have more social homes.”
Outlining why ending child poverty and building social housing are interlinked, John Dickie noted that while Scottish Government policies have made a real impact, we must invest more in both social security and social homes to meet the government’s own child poverty targets and end homelessness.
Craig Stirrat outlined the range of ways that social homes support tenants, ensuring that not only do people have a secure, affordable home but that they’re supported to stay in that home. Ben MacPherson MSP outlined that while many progressive policies were in place, meeting the affordable housing targets remained challenging and more would undoubtedly need to be done to reduce housing need.