SFHA calls for sustained long-term approach to tackle country’s housing crisis
Federation responds to impact report by Shelter Scotland.
For immediate release: Monday 7 August 2017
The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has responded to a new report by housing and homelessness charity Shelter Scotland on the scale and impact of Scotland’s housing crisis by calling for a sustained long-term approach in order to tackle it.
The charity’s report states that a shortage of affordable homes, welfare reform and stagnant wages have seen tenants struggling to afford housing costs.
Sarah Boyack, SFHA Head of Public Affairs, said:
“This report by Shelter Scotland highlights that Scotland desperately needs to tackle its housing crisis. While we welcome the Scottish Government’s commitment to increase the affordable housing target to 50,000 homes, we need a sustained long-term approach that goes beyond the lifetime of the current parliament.
“The report also shows that welfare reform is one of the main reasons that people have turned to the charity for help. Unfortunately, this is not surprising when welfare policies, such as Universal Credit, can see new claimants waiting up to six weeks until they receive payment. The SFHA has repeatedly called for the roll-out of Universal Credit to be halted until it can be shown to be working safely and will continue to lobby the UK Government on this and other welfare reforms which are negatively affecting our members and their tenants.” (1)
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For further information, please contact SFHA Media Adviser Kirsten Walker on t: 0141 567 6221 m: 0788 788 8348 email: kwalker@sfha.co.uk
Visit our website at www.sfha.co.uk
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NOTES:
- SFHA five point plan to reduce damaging impact of welfare reform.
- The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) was established in 1975 and has around 116 members providing affordable housing and wider community services across Scotland, as well as a further 200 sector associates. The SFHA is owned and governed by its members and exists to lead, represent and support the work of housing associations and co-operatives throughout Scotlan
- The SFHA is the voice of housing associations and co-operatives in Scotland. SFHA members own and manage 80% of the 280,000+ housing association stock across Scotland. Together, housing associations and co-operatives provide housing for almost 500,000 people, which is one in every 11 households.
- Over 11,000 staff are employed by SFHA members across Scotland.
- Housing associations and co-operatives are not-for-profit bodies regulated by the Scottish Housing Regulator.