With the Scottish Parliament election taking place a month today, SFHA has launched a campaign calling on Scotland’s political parties to support investment in the social housing sector in order to kickstart the country’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
SFHA’s Housing Changes Lives campaign is also highlighting why it’s vital that political parties commit to investing in the social housing sector because of the impact that housing associations and co-operatives' homes and services have on tenants' lives.
SFHA is calling on the next Scottish Government to deliver its manifesto asks which the federation said will support Scotland’s recovery from Covid-19 by tackling housing need, reducing poverty and creating jobs.
The manifesto asks include calling for the next Scottish Government to commit to:
- delivering 53,000 affordable homes, including 37,100 for social rent, between 2021 and 2026
- at least £3.4 billion investment, to help deliver these homes, which rises with increasing development costs during the next parliament
- a new government fund for improving and refurbishing existing housing stock
- increasing fuel poverty and energy efficiency funding to £244 million for 2021/22
- increasing social landlords’ adaptations funding to £17 million per year
- a new long-term fund which will enable social landlords, the third sector and communities to work together for those most impacted by the effects of Covid-19.
SFHA Chief Executive Sally Thomas said: “Our manifesto sets out where the next Scottish Government and housing associations and co-operatives can work together to deliver for Scotland and its people.
“No other sector has the ability to influence social and economic change to the same extent as the social housing sector. Our manifesto provides a road map that shows how we can continue to address housing need, tackle poverty, and reduce our carbon footprint. Committing to the actions in it will drive economic and social recovery following the pandemic and consolidate it in the years ahead.”
SFHA members are being invited to support the Housing Changes Lives campaign. Your organisation can do so by:
