Scottish Budget reverses affordable housing cut
Significant additional funding for aids and adaptations also set out.
SFHA has welcomed increased funding for the Affordable Housing Supply Programme after the Scottish Government reversed its previous cut.
In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Shona Robison MSP, announced funding of £768million for affordable housing- an increase of £211million on last year's budget, and a slight increase on funding in 2023-2024.
Whilst funding is welcome, SFHA has now urged the Scottish Government to provide housing associations with certainty by committing to multi-year funding after next year's UK Spending Review.
SFHA Chief Executive Sally Thomas said: “Whilst no single Budget was ever going to be enough to end the housing emergency, it is hugely welcome that the Scottish Government has listened to SFHA and reversed last year’s hammer-blow cut. As the Cabinet Secretary herself set out, having a warm, safe and affordable home is critical to eradicating child poverty.
“But beyond a one-year settlement, we hope this marks a much-needed reset on the Scottish Government’s approach to social housing. We look forward to working constructively with them to explore how they can provide a multi-year funding settlement for housing following the UK Government’s Spending Review next year.
“It’s only with sustained public investment that Scotland can benefit from the full potential of our housing associations to tackle the record levels of homelessness, reduce poverty, boost economic growth, and chart a roadmap out of our housing emergency.”
Funding was also increased for the aids and adaptations budget after sustained campaigning from SFHA calling for an uplift to the budget.
Members can read our briefing in the downloads section to the right-hand side of this article.
You can hear reaction from SFHA Chief Executive Sally Thomas on BBC Radio Scotland DriveTime Programme here at 1hr22mins.