SNP’s Housing Crisis: No Plan to End Scotland’s Emergency as Affordable Home Spending Plummets

A prominent housing charity has criticized John Swinney’s administration, urging government officials to be transparent with the citizens.

The SNP Government is facing criticism for allegedly not having a clear strategy to tackle Scotland’s housing crisis following a reduction in funding for affordable housing throughout the region.

Shelter Scotland, a key organization focused on combating homelessness, reported that 31 out of 32 local councils are poised to receive less funding for public housing this year compared to the fiscal year 2021-2022.

This situation persists even though John Swinney’s administration reversed a previous £196 million reduction in the affordable housing budget after a concerted campaign by this publication alongside various housing charities and groups.

According to the latest figures, only Edinburgh City Council has seen an increase in its budgetary allocations for affordable housing compared to four years ago.

These allocations, known as Resource Planning Assumptions (RPA), are part of the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme. This budget is primarily used to purchase and develop affordable housing, allocating about 70 percent for public housing managed by local councils and housing associations.

Despite these allocations, Shelter Scotland has indicated that funding levels are still lower than they were at the beginning of the current parliamentary term, even in nominal terms.

Alison Watson, Director of Shelter Scotland, expressed concern, stating, “It’s been over a year since the Scottish Parliament declared a national housing emergency, yet nearly all local authorities are still receiving less funding for new public housing than in 2021/22.”

“We urgently need bold measures from our leaders. With 2.3 million adults in Scotland affected by the housing crisis, it is imperative that the Scottish Government devises a clear plan to resolve this emergency,” Watson added.

Shirley-Anne Somerville, the Secretary for Social Justice, responded by noting, “This year, the Scottish Government is dedicating £768 million to support the creation of 8,000 homes, which include social and mid-market rent properties as well as low-cost home ownership options.”

“Additionally, we have committed £4 million to prevent homelessness and another £2 million to expedite the process of bringing privately owned vacant properties back into use,” Somerville concluded.