The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has called for long-term funding for the housing budget after new research revealed Scotland needs to build over 15,000 homes per year to meet housing need.
Research carried out by academics at the University of Liverpool, and Sheffield Hallam University, jointly commissioned by SFHA, Shelter Scotland and the Chartered Institute for Housing has revealed Scotland needs to build 15,693 affordable homes per year over the course of the next Scottish Parliament.
It comes as the Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Mairi McAllan MSP, is set to announce an action plan for tackling the housing emergency in a statement to the Scottish Parliament this afternoon.
SFHA Chief Executive Sally Thomas said: “The research is clear: ending the housing emergency is going to require building a lot more social homes and a radical and sustained increase in the housing budget.
“Put simply, we need around 15,693 social and affordable homes per year and total public investment of at least £8.2billion over the course of the next parliament.
“Housing associations deliver secure, warm and affordable homes in communities across Scotland, and they could build so much more. Policymakers now have the blueprint to support them and that can begin with a realistic funding settlement by government across several years to give them the certainty needed to invest, borrow and build.
“The cost of inaction means more homelessness, more children growing up in temporary accommodation and more dreams shattered by a housing system which grows ever more unaffordable.”