SFHA comments on Programme for Government

For immediate use: Tuesday 6 September 2016 

The Scottish Federation of Housing Association (SFHA) has welcomed the proposed Housing (Amendment) Bill, Social Security Bill and Warm Homes Bill announced today in the Programme for Government by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. These bills will all help to support the delivery of 50,000 affordable homes over the next five years. The federation also welcomed the confirmation that £3 billion will be provided to support the development of the new affordable homes target.

Andrew Jackson, Head of Public Affairs, SFHA, said:

“We continue to work with the Scottish Government and other partners to ensure that RSLs can play their part in the achievement of the Scottish Government’s ambitious 50,000 affordable homes target which will help to solve Scotland’s current housing crisis.

“We are pleased that the Social Security Bill will see the abolition of the ‘bedroom tax’ alongside a number of other welfare policies which have been counterproductive in supporting social tenants.”

Andrew Jackson continued:

“We also welcome the introduction of a Warm Homes Bill and the announcement of a new Energy Strategy as there is still much work to be done in order to solve fuel poverty.

“It is of paramount importance that everyone in Scotland can have a warm, energy efficient, affordable home in order to improve their health, wellbeing and life chances, and we trust that key elements of today’s Programme of Government will help to realise this.”

 

Ends

For further information, please contact Kirsten Walker on t: 0141 567 6221 m: 0788 788 8348 email: kwalker@sfha.co.uk

Visit our website at www.sfha.co.uk

Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/SFHA.HousingScotland

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NOTES:

1. The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) was established in 1975 and has around 120 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 Scotland www.sfha.co.uk
2. 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.
3. Housing associations and co-operatives are not-for-profit bodies regulated by the Scottish Housing Regulator.