Why can’t Scotland solve its housing emergency?

There is a housing emergency.

Those words ring as true today as they did this time last year when the social justice secretary addressed the Scottish Parliament.

The issue has been dubbed Scotland’s national shame.

Homelessness figures have increased to more than 16,500 and the number of children in temporary accommodation is at its highest since records began.

The Scottish Government’s most recent figures also show housebuilding has plummeted – including for much-needed social homes and affordable rented properties.

Scotland

Government urged to create action plan one year after housing emergency declared

MSPs voted to declare a housing emergency one year ago, following on from a similar move by local councils as homelessness reached record levels.

There are now calls for radical intervention to tackle the escalating housing emergency.

During the past 12 months, numerous commitments were made by senior members of the Scottish Government to tackle the problem.

Some £600m has been invested in affordable housing, with a view to bringing empty and abandoned properties back onto the market.

An extra £1m has also been committed to registered social landlords and third sector organisations to prevent homelessness and support people to stay in rented accommodation.

With fewer homes being built, the availability of social homes is trapping many in temporary homes, hotels, and B&Bs. Many are unsuitable for families and stories of overcrowding are commonplace.

Local authorities have received more money, but it’s not enough. Glasgow City Council recently declared that their homeless situation is so bad, they want the UK Government to stop sending refugees and asylum seekers to the city as there’s not enough room to house them.

Glasgow & West

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Glasgow City Council held a meeting on Monday to discuss the issue, but the UK Government’s representative cancelled.

The private rented sector has seen some intervention within the last 12 months, but the end of emergency legislation to protect tenants from rent rises has been met with anger from unions and renters.

Landlords can now raise rents in line with market value, forcing some renters to move out or cut back on other lifestyle commitments to afford hundreds more pounds in their monthly bills.

On the other side, landlords have also faced massive challenges with interest rate hikes and increased costs for repairs.

They are looking for fairness when it comes to legislation that will cover renting as part of the housing Bill currently making its way through Holyrood.

The Scottish Government has suggested rent control zones will be the next protection for tenants, but they won’t be in place until 2027 at the earliest.

In reality, without more investment into the sector from private and public sector, even fewer homes will be constructed, rents will remain high, and homeless figures will continue to skyrocket.